Pass 3 T3 g. 4- \ 
Bonk .11^4 



/ 

THE 



FIBRE PLANTS OF INDIA, 

AFEICA, AND OUR COLONIES. 6 . 

A TEEATISE ON 

RHEEA, PLANTAIN, PINE APPLE, JETE, 
AEEICAN AND CHINA GBASS, 

AND NEW ZEALAND FLAX 
(Phormium Tenax), 

AND ON 

THE CULTIVATION, PEEPAEATION, AND COTTON IZING OF 
HOME-GEOWN AND CONTINENTAL FLAX AND HEMP 
FITTED FOE SPINNING ON THE EXISTING 
COTTON MACHINEEY, 

AND ALSO ON 

SILK, WORSTED AND FLAX SPIMIIG MACHINERY, 

WITH FULL 



y 



INSTRUCTIONS ON THE METHOD OF PREPARING, SPINNING AND WEAVING, 
BY THE PATENTED MACHINES AND PROCESS OF 

THE AUTHOR 

JAMES H. DICKSON. 



LONDON : WILLIAM MACINTOSH, 24, PATEENOSTER EOW. 
DUBLIN : GEORGE HERBERT, GRAFTON STREET. 
Trice 7s. Qd, 

l/rti']. 

— - ok 



S 3 M 



LONDON: PRINTED BY WILKES AND THOKNBOROUGH, 63 3 NEWINGTON BUTTS, S. 



DEDICATED BY PERMISSION TO 



the ir/IO-ht noisroxji^^.BijE! 

K.G., dfc, $c. 

My Loed, 

I have to acknowledge with great respect 
the courtesy with which, in answer to my request, your 
Lordship granted me the privilege of dedicating this 
work on the cultivation of Flax, and the preparation 
of the Fibrous Plants of the East and West Indies, to 
your Lordship ; and has such an honour should have its 
weight and influence in and upon the consideration of the 
Members of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, 
especially at this time, when Flax is more than double the 
price quoted at any time during the last thirty years, and 
when Corn is selling at ruinously low prices, I may hope 
that the substance of this volume will, under such patronage, 
induce the Landlords and Farming Members of the Royal 
Agricultural Society to support the object I have in view, 
namely, a wide circulation of the instructions which the ex- 
perience of nearly thirty years as a Flax-grower, preparer of 
Flax, and manufacturer of Linen; also as Flax and Yarn 
Agent for three-fourths of the Flax-spinning firms in England, 
enables me to draw up. 

The facts, derived from my own experience, have been 
assiduously collated with the results obtained by many English, 
gentlemen-farmers, who have been induced, by my writings 
and instructions, to try the cultivation of Flax; and these 
varied experiences not only establish, by their agreement, 
the truth and value of my plans, but are found to be in 



iv 



DEDICATION. 



accordance with the facts and principles embodied in the 
several " Irish Farmers' Reports/' I therefore trust that these 
inferential proofs of the importance of the cultivation of Flax 
at home, and especially in India, may deserve the serious 
consideration of your Lordship and colleagues, and that they 
may obtain such attention from the Legislature as the present 
exorbitant prices of imported Flax really demands. 

Independently of the general argument, there are special 
reasons why the landowners should patronise and urge the 
cultivation of Flax ; and amougst the most powerful of them 
is, the necessity for growing the most profitable crop in order 
that the permanent improvement of the land, by increase of 
drainage, roads, buildings, &c, may prove to be a remune- 
rating operation, and there is a necessity why landlords and 
the richer tenants should set an example in cultivating this 
plant, for farmers generally do not possess the energy or 
enterprise which marks our merchants and manufacturers, 
when once satisfied of its profitableness, ready to turn their 
attention to anything when they require the influence of 
example, the work of the more wealthy and independent 
classes, to set them going. 

When, however, their attention shall have once been turned 
to the subject, and experience shall have taught them their 
true interests, there can be no more doubt of their surpassing 
the farmers of Belgium and Holland in the cultivation of Flax, 
than there is of the superiority which they have already 
attained in the other branches of industry. Undoubtedly, 
if we could retain, for our own use, or even send forward to 
British India, the millions of gold we annually pay to our 
Continental neighbours for Flax, hemp, linseed, and oil-cake, 
we should confer a benefit on the nation at large, and on our 
farmers in particular, if they could be persuaded to grow it. 

If, however, our British and Irish farmers will not enter 
the field of competition with the Continental farmers who 
grow Flax and hemp, while our spinners and manufacturers 



DEDICATION. 



V 



are obliged to pay such enormously high prices for the raw 
material, say from 12s. to 16s. for a stone of 16 J lb. of Flax, 
which in 1858 was sold on an average at 7s. 3d. to 8s. 9d. 
per stone, I sincerely hope that your Lordship will seriously 
consider the importance of the growth of these plants in 
India, as, in addition to them, your Lordship is already 
aware I have proved that the wild rheea, pine-apple, 
plantain, and other fibres of India, can be so prepared by my 
patent machines and patent liquid, that they can be turned to 
a great account iu this country, and that too, to the complete 
exclusion of the foreign Flax and hemp now so largely imported. 

Being of opinion that I am correct in these observations, 
I venture freely, but most respectfully, to submit them to 
your Lordship's consideration, and more particularly to the 
attention of the Government of India ; and I cannot but think 
and hope, that my endeavours to place before your Lordship 
and the Government, facts respecting the cultivation of such 
important and indispensable materials as Flax and hemp, 
which for many years have been, in consequence of our 
increased consumption and total neglect of the cultivation 
of the Flax plant, so great a source of profit to Continental 
farmers and dealers, that your Lordship will consider the 
subject deserving of your best attention. Trusting that 
however plain or imperfectly I may have expressed my views, 
in my several letters or remarks in this work, on the subject, 
your Lordship and those noble proprietors of the soil who are 
so deeply interested in agricultural matters, will consider that 
I am seriously advocating what I believe will, if fostered and 
promoted, draw millions from other countries into the British 
Exchequer, and thus become a national benefit, 
I have the honour to be, my Lord, 
"With profound respect, 

Your Lordship's obliged and faithful servant, 
J. HILL DICKSON 



PSEF ACE. 



If the author be asked, as the question will doubtless 
be put by many of his readers, his object in spending, 
from the year 1845 up to the present year 1864, so 
much time and labour in advocating the cultivation of Flax 
by British farmers, his answer must be, certainly, not the 
profit of publication, but as 198 copies must be forwarded 
to the Right Honourable Sir C. Wood, Secretary of State for 
India, for gratuitous distribution in that empire, with a view 
to promoting the cultivation and preparation of Flax and 
hemp and the many fibres which are to be found in the great 
empire of India ; a profit under such circumstances has not 
been to him the thought of a moment, and as it is no more 
than a guide to the more important object he has in view, 
namely, the introduction of his patent portable machines for 
crimping or breaking, scutching, combing, scraping and 
brushing Flax, hemp, rheea fibre, pine-apple fibre,. New 
Zealand Flax, &c, the work will be published at a price only 
barely sufficient to pay its own expenses. 

The author has been twenty-nine years in connection with 
almost every department of the Flax trade, and for the last 
ten years in particular, engaged in inventing and manu- 
facturing machinery for the preparation of Flax and hemp, 
and similar fibrous plants; and being made aware, from 
a personal acquaintance with the late lamented Dr. Forbes 
Royle, of the East India Company, that India abounds with 
fibrous plants, sufficient to produce, if looked up and prepared, 
more than double what we are obliged to import for our 
spinning factories; the author's sole attention has been 
directed to the supplying of such machines as must eventually 



PREFACE. 



vii 



remove all obstacles to the cultivation of Flax and hemp in 
India, and more particularly to prepare other fibres which 
are, in his opinion, very far superior for many purposes to 
Flax or hemp. He has had them spun as wool, mixed in and 
scribbled with wool, and coloured with wool, and latterly spun 
upon cotton machinery, as if cotton, by the Messrs. Birley 
Brothers, of Preston, and also on silk and Flax-spinning 
machinery with great success; therefore, his object in 
publishing this work, is, to give cheap and wide-spread 
information on the value of the various plants of India, which 
he has by his inventions, made as fine and all but as valuable 
for many purposes as silk, and by such discoveries he feels he 
has added some links to the great chain of national wealth 
derived from our factories in Great Britain and Ireland. 

Secondly, the author confidently asserts that the mainspring 
of his labours is the knowledge of the profits derivable from 
the growth of Flax, and a wish to see these profits enjoyed by 
his countrymen, instead of, as at present, by foreigners. 
English farmers do not know how profitable the continental 
growers find the Flax crop to be, and not only does ignorance 
-on the subject prevail, but gross misrepresentations are still 
abroad ; and as it is his earnest wish to see both of them finally 
removed, the work has been compiled by him as a contri- 
bution to the cause. He has endeavoured to show in its pages 
that the real interest of the landowner and farmer would be 
served by the extended cultivation of the Flax and hemp 
plants. The one will find himself benefitted by the higher 
cultivation which such crops require, and the other will find 
them to yield him greater returns than any of the grain crops 
he now grows. 

The author knows from experience that, at the low prices of 
farm produce, agriculture is at present, in most hands, a very 
bare, if not a losing business ; and he will be happy, if his 
endeavours to promote an extended cultivation of Flax and 



PREFACE. 



hemp should prove successful, particularly in the south and 
west of Ireland, where millions of acres lie waste that might 
be turned to a national benefit, and increase thereby the 
demand for more permanent and profitable employment. For, 
under Flax cultivation, the remuneration of the labourer 
would never be less than two shillings per day. 

For the ability to make the greater part of this collection of 
his writings, the author has to thank the Editors of The Gar- 
dener's Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, The Gardener's and 
Farmer's Journal, Morning Herald, Bell's Messenger, Leeds 
Intelligencer, Hereford Journal, and several other English 
provincial papers ; also the Editors of The Armagh Guardian, 
Newry Telegraph, Banner of Ulster, Cork Constitution, Tuam 
Herald, Galway Vindicator, and also the Cork Southern 
Reporter. The courtesy which he experienced from all these 
gentlemen, and the instant cordiality of those with whom he 
was best acquainted, merit his warmest acknowledgments, as 
their never-to-be-forgotten assistance has proved to him a 
tower of strength. 

He has little more to add, than that he has completed the 
work to the best of his ability, and hopes the sincerity with 
which he writes everything (especially against the enemy of 
his cause), will procure him the usual indulgence for the many 
defects that remain, and if it should appear to the new reader 
a little beyond the pale of recognised style, or too exuberant 
in the flow of animal spirits, it is hoped he will be good 
enough to understand what former readers have long been 
aware of, namely, that the writer comes from the " Emerald 
Isle," and that what might have been considered affectation 
in colder blood, was only enthusiasm in a warmer tempera- 
ment. He is not conscious, however, of suffering anything to 
remain which a reasonable critic could object to, and if 
political opinions in some parts triumph, he cannot but say 
that, had he attempted to alter the usual spirit of his writings 



PREFACE. 



ix 



he would have belied the truth that is in him, and shown 
himself unworthy of the confidence of his friends, and un- 
grateful to his former supporters. 

Neither time nor circumstances will allow him to abate a 
jot of those cheerful and hopeful opinions and wishes, in the 
diffusion of which he has now been occupied for the last 
fourteen years of a life passed in combined struggle and 
studiousness ; and it is now his greatest consolation to find 
that the hours spent at his writing desk, and the days and 
nights of study while engaged in the invention of his 
machines, have not been spent in hopeless expectation of a 
reward, his successful inventions having enabled him to outlive 
misconception and the enmity of the selfish and narrow- 
minded sceptics of the day. He only waits for time, and he 
will yet behold his labours crowned with success, and his 
inventions acknowledged to be national advantages. 

In addition to the aid the author has had the pleasure of 
acknowledging from the gentlemen of the press, he feels 
happy to say he has benefitted by reading and quoting from 
the writings of Leigh Hunt, who, it appears, like the author, 
lead a life of continuous struggle for years before he was able 
to enjoy tranquility and repose. 

The author quite agrees with that gentleman when he says, 
11 May all who experience cheerfulness equal to the writer in 
adversity, never know the troubles that have rendered it (until 
now) almost his only possession." 



CONTENTS. 



PART I, 

PAGE. 

Instructions on the Cultivation of Flax, viz., description of soil best 



suited ... 1 — 4 

Profits realised by growing fine quality 5 — 9 

Chemical manure 10 

Mode of preparing the Land 11 — 14 

Deep Draining indispensable 15 — 16 

Fallacy as to the exhausting effects of Flax on the soil, and rotation 

table in cropping 17—18 

Directions in choice of seed, quantity to be sown per acre, and direc- 
tions as to sowing 19 — 22 

Weeding, harvesting or pulling the crop 23 — 24 

Taking off the seed, drying and saving 25 — 26 

Mixing of old with new seed — a fraud and injury to Flax-growers . 27 

Watering or retting in Ireland 28 — 30 

Watering, Belgium system most to be recommended .... 31 — 32 

Grassing, or spreading and lifting 33 — 34 

Weeds in Flax, dodder most injurious ...... 35 

Flax-steep, or water in which Flax has been steeped or prepared, 

liquid manure, particularly for flowers ..... 36 — 37 

Flax seed for cattle-feeding in preference to oil-cake, proved by a 
most experienced and scientific gentleman farmer in Ireland, 

E. McKane, Esq 38—44 

PAET II. 

Instructions on crimping or breaking Flax or hemp straw, rheea or 

similar fibres, green or retted 45 — 46 

Instructions on scraping, scutching, brushing and combing ... 46 

Instructions on washing and wringing 47 

Instructions on using the patent preserving liquid .... 48—50 
The author's lecture in the Leeds Court House, on the fibres of India 

and his method of preparation, in August, 1858 .... 51 — 57 
Sir John Ogilvy's letter to the Right Hon. Lord Stanley, on the 

subject of a supply of Flax from India 58 — 60 

PART III. 

Mechanical process of heckling and spinning 61 — 65 

Scale showing the cost of spinning the various numbers, from No. 

22 to No. 180 lea 66—69 

Tables of instructions showing the quantity of warp and weft, and 
expense of weaving a piece or web of drill, strong, or light 

linens, lawn or cambric handkerchiefs, cost of yarns . . . 70 — 84 



CONTENTS. 



xi 



Profits made by cultivating Flax proved by letters published in the 
" Gardener's Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette " the " Leeds 
IntelHgencer," "Bell's Messenger," and several other Journals, 
where growers had realized from £20 to £30 per acre over cost 
of production . , 85 — 97 

Sir E. Kane's experiments proving before the Royal Irish Academy 
that the fibre is comprised of organic matters derived from 
water and the atmosphere, and not an exhausting, but absolutely 
a restorative crop, if properly cultivated and finished for market 98 — 100 

Belfast Flax Society meeting at Ballinasloe and the several Flax- 
growers in support of the author, having condemned Mr. 
Stephens, the author of the "Book of the Farm, " for his theo- 
retical teaching respecting Flax as being an unprofitable crop 101 — 115 

Mr. Stephens's letter in reply to the author's letter in the 

" Agricultural Gazette " 116 — 117 

The author's reply to that letter 118—120 

The author's letter to the "Leeds Intelligencer," showing where 
1a. 3k. 16p. of land produced Flax sufficient to employ 217 
persons twelve months and produced £2,217 6s. 8d. worth of 
goods for export 121 — 124 

Dickson on his Flax mills being erected in workho uses, — -Earl 
Clancarty's letter for information on the cost, and Dickson's 
reply now in 1864, with a view to Flax as a substitut e for cotton 125 — 128 

The late Mr. James Brown's remarks on the good that would result 
if the linen trade was extended to the south and west of 
Ireland, and workhouses abolished and turned into Flax- 
mills. The most noble the Marquis of Downshire's reply . 129 — 131 

The author's letter on the regeneration of Ireland, proving what Mr. 
T. H. Sotheron Estcourt, M.P., did on his farm in TV ilts, by 
having one of his Flax-breaking and scutching mills put to 
work where yarn or linen had not been made, that the same 
could be done in Ireland 132 — 144 

The author's letter in answer to Professor Lowe's letter in the 
"Cork Constitution," giving the practical result of Flax- 
growing on the estate of Sir T. Bateson, by a gentleman 
farmer, Mr. Hugh Dobbin, near Moira, and several other 
growers, all of which proved the Professor's theoretical views 
were erroneous . . 145 — 158 

The late Bight Hon. Sir J. Graham's speech on Flax-growin g, and 
his notice of Mr. Samuel Druce, of Esham, Oxon, profits on 
5a. 2e. 6p 158—160 

The author's answer to the Editor of the London " Standard," 
against the increase of Flax-culture and the linen trade in 



xii 



CONTENTS. 



Ireland, proving his inconsistency with his writings in 1850, in 
favour of and quoting Swift's policy on the thriving of a 
kingdom, and proving, by Mr. Druce's profit on Flax- growing, 
that the Editor is not competent to give advice on the subject 161 — 165 

Eeturns of Elax grown in 1863 and 1864, by Mr. W. Donelly, 
Registrar-General, Dublin, and further remarks on the warning 
voice of the "Standard," and the truly absurd views and 
ignorance of the linen and Elax trade of Ireland, as Sir R. 
Kane's experiments upset his theoretical assertions . . 166—171 

The author's first success in spinning rheea fibre, Elax, and hemp, 
on cotton machinery, in Preston, and the expressed opinion of 
the late Sir Wm. Brown, Bart., of Liverpool, in its favour, and 
that such must go far to revolutionise the trade of Lancashire 172 — 173 

Letter from Messrs. Birley, Brothers, of Preston, to the author, 
after the rheea spun Dy itself, with yarns spun from rheea fibre 
and Sirat cotton mixed 174 

Observations on the above yarns when woven into cloth, and sent 
on to Sir C. Wood and Mr. Gladstone, recommending it in 
place of cotton cloth for the army in India, as it could be 
made for half the price of cotton cloth 175 — 176 

Letter from the author in answer to the Editor of the "Mark Lane 
Express," on his patents for converting green Flax-straw into 
fine white fibre in five hours 177 — 181 

Letter from the late Dr. J. E. Royle, of the Hon. East India 
Company, from whom the author had the first samples of rheea 

and other East Indian fibres . 183 

Observations on the necessity of absentee landowners in Ireland 
having Flax-cultivation extended in the south and west, to 
prevent workhouses being again, like Tralee, crammed with 
7,300 human beings doomed to misery from want of employment 184 — 186 

Letter to the late Marquis of Lansdowne, and reply from his 

London agent 187 — 188 

Observations by the " Armagh Guardian" on the prepared fibre. 
Letter to " Bell's Messenger" on the result of preparing green 
Flax- straw for Mr. Dand, the tenant of Lord Lovaine, in 
Northumberland 189—190 

Letter to the " Cork Constitution" on the result of the Governor of 
the prison having employed the prisoners to prepare green 
Flax-straw ..... ..... 191—192 

Observations of the " Londonderry Standard" on my fibres . . 192 — 193 

The Editor of the " Morning Herald's," notice of my first patented 

Flax preparing machine . 194 



CONTENTS. 



xiii 



Result of preparing a portion of two bales of Flax, and hemp sent 
from Brittany by merchants in Paris, to be prepared in the 
presence of the French Government Engineer, J. B. Pas- 
locerau, Lalasse, and others 



195 



Letter of complaint and loss of cases of fibre, by the Armagh 
Railway Manager ; neglect of duty 



196—200 



Calculation of expense and profit of growing and selling green un- 
steeped Flax, by the author's patent machinery for preparin g 



201 



Calculations, if followed up by steeping in his patent liquid, and 
remarks on the imports 



202—204 



Letter to " Bell's Messenger " on the subject of a market for green 

Flax-straw, and the value when prepared .... 205 — 209 
London Flax-brokers and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Flax-spinners, value 



Yisit of London Flax merchants and the Right Hon. Lord Lovaine, 
Mr. T. P. Oakes, and Col. Alcock, to see the machines at work, 
and report of Mr. Lee, Editor of "Bell's Messenger," also present 211—212 

Messrs. Marshall's report on the quantity they can produce 
by a given weight of Flax- straw ; also Mr. Andrews, Mr. 
Warn, Mr. McAdam, and the author .... 214 — 215 

Report of experiments on all kinds of Flax, including phormium tenax, 
valued, when prepared by DicKson's patent machinery, alone, 
at £40 to £50 per ton, by J. R. W. Atkinson, Esq., retired 
partner of Hives & Atkinson, Leeds 216—218 

Letter to the " Banner of Ulster," in 1856, on the importance and 
advantage of power-loom weaving, stating the fact that I was 
the first man to introduce a power -loom into Belfast, which I 
superintended the alterations and working in Leeds required, 
and brought back with me to Belfast the first two perfect webs 
of linen and linen drill 220—226 

Calculation of weaving linen by hand, and weaving by power, by 

my system, and by the common system now followed . . 227—230 

Report on Irish scutching-mills in the four provinces, Ulster, 

Munster, Leinster, and Connaught 231 232 

Report of Mr. Crisp, Editor of the " Agricultural Magazine," on the 
working of the machines on Russian hemp and Flax, Indian 
fibres and Italian hemp . 233—234 

Italian Hemp and Flax Company in Italy and the cause of failure, 
being the want of my improved machines in consequence of 
Curte Piccotto's failure 237 — 238 

The " Cork Reporter " on the Flax subject, and Dickson's Indian 
fibres, and their state of perfection when exhibited at their 
office, by Mr. Biggs, of Cork 239 — 341 



on the green Flax prepared by the patent machines 



210 



xiv 



CONTENTS. 



C. H. Frewen, Esq., the owner of Innishannan — cause of his not 
carrying out his proposal to aid the author in erecting mills on 
his property in the village 242 — 246 

The " Cork Reporter " again comes out on Flax in India, knowing 
the want of material for the trade in Ireland, and that want of 
cotton in England, is Ireland's opportunity for Flax . . 244 — 246 

The author's observations and writings in 1845, on the certainty of 
Flax taking the place of cotton in Manchester, made still more 
confident in 1847 by the visit of a relative from Charleston, 
Dr. Corbett, nephew of Dr. S. H. Dickson .... 246—247 

The author's observations on the opportunity his Excellency Lord 
Wodehouse, now has of making Ireland the right arm of Lan- 
cashire, and doing away with the slave-grown cotton of America 248 — 249 

PAET IV. 

Early history of the spinning and weaving of Flax into linen cloth 
up to the reign of William III. when Ireland was left in 
possession of the linen trade, — progress and falling of or 
decline in the amount of production which commenced from 
1815 at the conclusion of the war 250 — 259 

Messrs. James Kay and Sons, of Manchester, the first to revive it by 
the introduction of wet spun yarns by their patented inventions, 
when others from Yorkshire followed by giving long credit to 
manufacturers of linen cloth 260 

Messrs. T. and A. Mulholland may be justly called the fathers of 
the trade, inasmuch as they were the first to build an extensive 
factory for spinning Flax (or what is justly termed Kaye's 
patent) in Belfast in 1828, in most extensive premises, aided 
and extended by their partners, Hind, Herdman, and Co. . 261 — 263 

Textile fabrics of the ancients, taken from the London "Daily 

News," worthy of space and perusal 264 — 269 

Letter taken from the " Morning Chronicle" on cotton and Flax, 
with notes on ccttonizing Flax by the author's machine, now 
that cotton is from Is. 6d. to 2s. 6d. per lb. in 1864 . . . 270 — 272 

The author's experiments on New Zealand Flax (Phormium Tenax) 
for the Society of Arts explained, and an extract from Mr. C. 
Hawthorn's " New Zealand," on the climate and scenery of 
the colony— the Maori or native islander noticed . . . 273 — 277 

Comments -^by the author) on the sketch of the "History of Flax- 
spinning in Leeds," read by a Leeds Flax-spinner before the 
British Association in 1858 278 290 

The author, seeing Dundee was by the Leeds Flax-spinner un- 
noticed, gives the statistics of Dundee, and proves that the 
prosperity arises from Flax-spinning and weaving, and exports 
of yarns and cloth 291 — 294 



CONTENTS. 



XV 



Rheea recommended to take the place of cotton in Lancashire, just 
as jute took the place to a great extent of Flax in Dundee, and 
cloth made from rheea and cotton for browsers stuff for the 
Indian army at half the cost — not worthy of Mr. Gladstone's 
notice — "Buy in the cheapest and sell in the dearest market," 
forgotten by the finance minister ...... 295 — 296 

The prosperity of Dundee recommended to Galway merchants and 
farmers, and the labour of a girl of sixteen years of age in Ulster 
making £20 per annum weaving linen, held up as an example 297 

The sweets of industry by pursuing Swift's policy recommended by 
the author, and the press that fosters jealousy between England 
and Ireland condemned, because they do not join or hold up 
the advice of Sir R. Kane, on cotton imported and manufac- 
tured in Killaloe to work a social revolution .... 298 — 300 

A short sketch by a Belfast gentleman on " Our Staple Manufac- 
ture, Past and Present," is well deserving of space and perusal 301 — 307 

The author's ideas of the pleasure to work with others that have 
perseverance, genius, and enterprise to advance arts and manu- 
factures, in the face of the enemies of progress, over-reaching 
Jews 308—311 

PAET Y. 

The late Dr. J. E. Rojle's work on the " Fibre Plants of India," 
their cost of preparing, and produce or profit when sold [in 
Liverpool, and bank-note paper made from the waste. . . 312 — 316 

The new and improved machines will have been so constructed that 
all has been brought into one machine, to break out all the 
woody parts of the plant. The whole process explained . 317 

The first yarns and cloth made from the patent process from Indian 
fibres exhibited at the Society of Arts May 9th, 1860, by Mr. 
Dickson, Thomas Bazley, Esq., M.P., in the chair, during the 
lecture of Dr. Watson, India Office. 318 

The author's and patentee's estimate of the cost of machinery, cost of 
material, cost of working and profit per week, on rheea fibres, 
Flax, hemp, or New Zealand Flax, suitable for cotton, silk, 
worsted or Flax-spinner's purposes . .. . . . . 319 — 322 

Quantity produced in thirty minutes iii the presence of Mr. 
Gardener, of the firm of Messrs. Gardener and Mackintosh, 
Engineers, New Cross, London 323 

Yarns spun by Yorkshire and Lancashire spinners of Flax, silk, 

worsted and cotton, in all fifteen firms, names and addresses . 324 — 325 

The noble Earl of Derby's letter on the subject of having the 
patentee's book containing the material, yarn and cloth, placed 
before the Executive Relief Committee in Manchester . . 326 



xvi 



CONTENTS. 



The patentee's system, by order of the Lords of the Admiralty, 
tried on his prepared Italian hemp at Chatham, proved 20 to 
25 per cent, in his favour, but not reported, and a complaint 

made of the injustice 327 — 330 

Letter by the Rev. George Rowc, Geography Training College, 
York, who had the Indian fibres, yarns and cloth for the 
purpose of illustrating his lecture and supply of material . . 331 — 333 
Letters of Sir W. Hooker, Royal Gardens, Kew, who had obliged 
the patentee with the Indian fibre plants in the green state 
from the Gardens; also the author's views on the necessity of 
the Secretary of State for India promoting the cultivation of 

such fibres as substitutes for cotton 334 — 336 

Mr. N. Wilson on the useful vegetable products, especially the fibres 

of Jamaica 337—343 

Notice to spinners and manufacturers to prevent piracy and fraud . 344—346 
New company for the supply of East and West India fibre, and 
their attempt to make use of the patent machines and liquid 
in India, without paying according to their agreement . . 337 — 348 
Lieut-Colonel Abbott's report on the cost of growing rheea fibre in 
India, from 25 years' residence in that empire and a thorough 
knowledge of the nature of the plant ..... 349 — 358 
Mr. W. Whittaker, late partner of Messrs. Milligan and Forbes, of 
Bradford, his purchase of the patents for £10,000 and the 
cause of his not making good his agreement after paying £850 

on account 359—360 

The late Dr. Koyle's letter to the patentee, wishing to see the 

machines at work 361 — 362 

Leeds spinners valuation of Italian hemp and New Zealand Flax, 

(Phormium Ten ax), when prepared by the patent liquid . . 363 — 364 
New material for cotton spinners, not half the price of cotton, 
calculated to revolutionise the trade of Lancashire ; such was 
the expressed opinion of the late Sir W. Brown, Bart., 

Liverpool, and liberty to refer to him 365 — 372 

Banquet to the Lord Lieutenant (Lord Wodehouse) in Ireland, 

26th November, 1864 373 — 376 

Letter of the patentee to His Excellency on the advantages of the 
power-loom in Ireland, the patentee having been the first man 
in Ireland to introduce a power-loom into Belfast to weave 
linen cloth through his alterations on a power-loom in Leeds, 

in 1838 377—378 

His Excellency's reply and the patentee's comments . . . 380 
Appendix 1 — 30 



PART I. 

Instructions on the Cultivation of Flax, commencing with description of Soil 
test suited to produce it— Profits realized by growing fine quality— Chemical 
Manure for its growth on land not considered in proper condition, prepared by 
scientific mew— Mode of preparing all kinds of soil for Flax culture — Deep 
Draining proved Indispensable— Rotation of Cropping so as to have Flax only 
once in ten years in the same soil — Seed directions as to choice — Sowing direc- 
tions as to time — Necessity of Weeding explained — Harvesting or Pulling the 
Crop fully entered into, and directions on the most improved method of taking 
off the Seed by Dickson's Patent Machine, and mode of saving it — Watering, 
commonly called Retting, on the best system practised in Ireland — The Belgium 
system of Steeping in a running stream preferable— Gkassing, Spreading 
andX/TFTiNG — Water in which Flax has been steeped as Manure, especially for 
flowers, — Flax Seed for feeding cattle practised and recommended by 
E. McKane, Esq., Ballyharden, and Blackwater, Armagh, Ireland, from the year 
1830, on his extensive Farms. 



In recommending the more extended cultivation of Flax now 
in 1864, (when I find there is an increase of 87,843 acres 
grown in Ireland this year over that of 1863) to the con- 
sideration and attention of the Landowners and the Farmers 
of Great Britain and Ireland, as being more profitable to 
grow than any other article that they can produce from 
tilling the soil, aided as our natural productions are, by 
the climate of the country, my first duty will be to direct 
attention to the description of soil that is requisite for the 
growth of the Plant, so that Farmers may know how to select 
or prepare their land, that they may calculate with certainty 
on producing Flax of fi?ie and valuable quality, such as the 
Belfast Flax Society asserts has been produced, and sold at 

A 



2 



DICKSON ON THE 



the high price of £90 to £150 per ton, — a large amount 
when we consider the same may be produced off three statue 
acres of land, and £10 per acre is sufficient to cover rent and 
all other expenses in preparing the Flax fibre for the market, 
and as this great inducement of profit should stimulate 
Farmers to select and prepare ground for Flax, with as much 
care and attention as they would do a garden plot of Onions, 
— I shall endeavour to inform them of what I know of the 
soils in the best Flax districts in Ulster, as well as of what I 
know of the soils and the mode of preparing in the Flax 
districts on the Continent, and the seperate modes of manage- 
ment in harvesting the crop, and to this I shall add a 
description of the compound, or manure requisite to bring the 
Land, if spoor, up to a proper state to produce a luxurious 
ci op of Flax, describing the mode of preparation, and the 
course of rotation. 

DESCRIPTION OF SOILS. 

It has now been proved beyond all doubt that good Flax 
may be grown by careful cultivation on various descriptions of 
soils, whether the upper or active soil be Long, Peaty, 
Clayey, Sandy, or Gravelly, provided there is beneath a 
good clay subsoil, — but that loam of a deep, dry quality, with 
a clay subsoil, is the best for producing a large quantity, or 
yield, and. fine quality of fibre, we have every proof of the fact 
from experiments made by successful! growers in the counties 
of Armagh and Down, where Flax is now often grown equal 
to the best Flemish Flax, — because of the care and attention 
the Farmers in these counties give to Flax growing in order 
to compete with foreigners, and not have it said they can be 
beat in practical operations by the Belgians. Being myself 
deeply interested in the improvement ot the quality of Flax 
grown in Ireland, during the many years that I attended the 
Armagh, Tanderagee, Ballybay, Dungannon, and Ballymena 



CULTURE OF FLAX. 3 

Flax Markets, every week during the Flax selling season, 
to purchase the article for the Flax Spinning firms (for which 
I was agent) in Leeds and Preston, when very little Flax 
could be had in the Irish markets as well prepared as that 
which is now produced, — I took particular notice of the soils, 
and made great enquiries of the Farmers, as I drove from 
market to market, respecting the course or rotation, prepara- 
tion and management, I found that in the Markethill and 
Tanderagee district, where the soil is rather of a sandy and 
gravelly mould, Flax of very fine quality was constantly pro- 
duced in this quarter. They planted the Potatoes at that 
period, principally in the ridge way, with the spade, and this 
deepened the soil as they frequently raised up by a " Pick 
'Axe" the clay soil in the furs to cover the plants, and 
Potatoes thus planted are always better manured and more 
easily kept free from weeds than they are in the Plantations 
or drill method of Labouring, and the ground is well pulver- 
ized by the digging, especially if the bottom of the furrows or 
subsoil happens to be, as it is in most parts, clay, it is fre- 
quently, as I said, hand picked and the furrows shovelled up, 
and this clay being tossed on the top of the ridges to the 
scorching rays of the Sun, crumbles down round the Potatoe 
plants, and helps to bind the loose mould into a more firm 
body, — and when the Potatoes are removed by the spade, it 
gets such a mixing with the mould, that it is to the land as a 
new flannel vest is to the body at Christmas, for it binds and 
renovates it, and prepares it to stand the labour, just as the 
warm flannel prepares the body to stand the piercing blast of 
the winter's day. Formerly, and I may say up to 1842, when 
the Belgian system got known in Ireland, the ground so pre- 
pared for Potatoes, was what the Farmers grew their Flax 
crops from ; but now they grow it after the Belgian system 
and take first a crop of Barley or Wheat after Potatoes, and 
then Flax, and this they find much more profitable, for in the 



4 



DICKSON ON TEE 



first place, the Barley or Wheat are good paying crops, and 
after that, they find the stubble when ploughed down and 
managed in autumn, as I shall afterwards remark, produces 
them Flax of much finer quality than what they formerly 
grew on Potatoe ground. 

Although Flax requires rich and deep soil, experience has 
taught the Flax growers in Ulster, that it is not on the large 
quantity of the common fresh Farm-yard manure being used, 
that they must depend when they calculate on having a 
luxuriant crop and fine quality of Flax, as chemical investi- 
gations have shown, that the fibre of Flax abstracts certain 
matter from tho soil more largely than other cultivated crops ; 
and if the common fresh Farm-yard manure does not possess 
these ingredients, because of the poor feeding of the cattle or 
otherwise, an over quantity of manure of this sort will 
unquestionably be detrimental to the crop, inasmuch as it will 
force up strong, coarse bone of Flax Straw, and as a conse- 
quence coarse fibre must be the result. I therefore assert from 
the experiments I have seen made, and the result I have 
watched of Flax after Potatoes, and Flax after Barley or 
Wheat, that the latter crops should be produced after the 
ground has been manured for Potatoes 01 Turnips before 
Flax be cultivated, — as either crops will take up the over 
quantum of matter which would, if left in the soil, completely 
spoil all hope of the Flax plant being produced either in 
quantity or fine quality. The Wheat or Barley stubble when 
turned down by the plough in October serves as manure for 
the Flax the year following. 

PROFITS REALISED BY GROWING FINE FLAX. 

Having so strongly recommended the extension of Flax 
cultivation to the notice of the British Farmers, they are 
likely to ask What are we to expect from adding a new article 
of produce into our present course of rotation in Farming ? and 
how does it appear that Flax can be made to leave so large a 
profit over Wheat, Barley, or any other crop after paying 



PROFITS BY GROWING FLAX 



5 



expenses ? I shall therefore enter into the subject by calling 
attention to the expenses of growing one acre of Flax ; and 
although I give on the credit side, sufficient to show £20 clear 
profit per acre, I think the letters and references that will be 
found in another part, will be sufficient to prove beyond all 
question, that a much greater profit can be had by care and 
good management ; and depending on them as proofs, I shall 
proceed to show the advantage to be gained by the Fanners in 
the cultivation of this plant ; and will, for their information, 
give particulars as to the profits on one acre of land cultivated 
and prepared with Flax ; then let those Farmers who have 
calculated the expense and profit on one acre of Wheat and 
Barley, compare with this, and answer the question — « 
Whether or not it is advisable for them to grow Flax, as they 
do in the north of Ireland, to meet their rents, which cannot 
be affected by the rise or fall of grain ? Observing in a table. 
I have which shows the annual value of land per statute 
acre in England and Wales, in which 1 find— Leicester, 
£1 6s. 9d. ; Somerset, £1 5s. lOd. ; and Worcester, £1 6s. 2d. ; 
these three being the highest average, I select one of them :■— 

Flax. 

£ s. d. 



Dr. 

Rent of 1 
Land . 



Acre of 



16 9 



1 10 3 



2| Bushels of Flax 

Seed 

Ploughing and 

Sowing 15 

Twelve Hands em- 
ployed Weeding 12 
Twelve do. Pulling 18 
Six do. Watering 

and Grassing ... 10 
8 do. Lifting and 

Carting Home... 8 
Scutching, say 52 

Stone 2 12 

Poor Rates and 

Taxes 10 

£9 12 



By produce of One 
Acre of Middle 
Quality of Flax, 
say 52 Stone at 
8s. 6d 22 

20 Bushels of Flax 
Seed at 8s. ..... . 8 

£30 

Deduct Bent and 
Expenses......... 9 



Cr. 

a. 



2 







12 



Nett Profit... £20 



6 



DICKSON ON THE 



I have given the outside expense of the cultivation of one 
acre of Flax crop, and the average weight of a middling crop 
and quality ; at the same time I must observe, if our Irish 
and English Farmers could be trained into the management 
of the crop as the Belgians do, there is nothing to prevent 
their obtaining in lieu of 8s. 6d., 12s. to 15s., or perhaps 20s. 
per stone of 14 lbs. — as spinners often give from £100 to 
£180 per ton for Courtray Flax, and I have frequently 
given 12s. to 15s. per stone for fine quality of Irish Flax, 
when selecting as Agent for Leeds and Preston spinners in the 
Flax markets of Armagh, Tanderagee, Bellymena, and 
Belfast, however, as the example aa to produce and profits 
that I quote, may be said to be theory and not practice, I 
must now bring in proof. 

Leaving the profits to be proved by the letters from 
English and Irish Farmers that will follow this, I must bring 
in the production on the property of the highest and most 
distinguished supporters of Agricultural productions in Eng- 
land, as to the weight of Flax and seed off 4 \ statue acres; 
but I shall first offer a few remarks on the great difference 
between Flax and every other crop grown in this country, the 
comparative value depending as it does, on the manner in 
which it is handled after the crop has been harvested. 

I am aware that, in some instances, Farmers have (on 
choice pieces of land) grown from 6 to 8 quarters of Wheat 
to the acre, and that such a crop would, no doubt, pay well 
for the care and labour bestowed ; but according to Mr. 
Barclay's report of experiments in Surrey, which report I 
have copied in this part of my compilation, I find that 40 
bushels per imperial acre are all he can produce. However, 
let an average of Wheat be taken at five quarters per acre, or 
say £12 in value, therefore, as you only can differ in 
producing EXTRA QUANTITY, say what might be worth £2 
more than your neighbour could realize, and cannot produce 



PROFITS BY GROWING FLAX. 



7 



quality that will draw more than 6d. per cwt. oyer him, your 
account under the most prosperous circumstances, for one acre 
of Wheat, could not be above . . . £14 
Then deduct Rent, and expenses 5 10 

Thus it appears the profits on one acre is £8 10 

In respect to the Flax crop, however, you may exceed that 
of your neighbours, not only by extra quantity due to good 
cultivation, but you may also exceed him by producing 
superior quality by better handling after harvesting or 
pulling; thus taking a middling crop of Flax, say 52 stone at 
8s. 6d. per 'stone — £22 2s. ; the seed being nearly sufficient 
to cover the Eent and Labour expenses, this sum will be, not 
only all the profit that can be made, but as I have said 
previously, it is possible to make it much more than £22 2s. 
You may grow it worth 10s. up to 20s. per stone, whereas, it 
is not possible for you to grow Wheat worth more than 5s. pe» 
bushel, or 6d. per bushel over your neighbour ; for extra care 
at the harvest can make no change on Wheat, nor can you by 
any means improve the quality, as you do in the Flax 
preparation. By these facts I prove that Farmers have a 
premium offered them by cultivating Flax, that is not to 
be had from the cultivation of any of the natural crops of 
Great Britain and Ireland. 

Having selected the production of Flax and seed "off 4J 
statute acres, to prove my theory being practical, as to the 
weight of one acre's produce, I must call the reader's 
attention to the following : — 

His Royal Highness, the late and much lamented Ppjxce 
Consoet, favored me with the privilege of placing his name 
at the top of my list of subscribers as patron to my first Work 
on the Improved system of Flax cultivation in 1847, and as 
the 4| acres alluded to were grown on His Royal Highness's 
model farm, where his oxen and pigs, for which he had 



8 



DICKSON ON THE 



obtained so many prizes at the Agricultural shows, were 
reared, it is but justice to the late Prince to publish the 
successful experiment made by his direction in cultivating 
Flax, an experiment which, I should say has been, if not equal, 
little short of what any of His Royal Highness's relatives 
could produce in Belgium, where our best Flax comes from. 

The report now before me does not mention anything 
respecting quality^ but by it I am informed that the produce 
or yield off 4 J acres has been 252 stones of clean Flax, fit for 
spinning, and 76J bushels of seed, or at the rate of 56 stones of 
Flax per acre, and 17 J bushels of seed per acre, — this is 
certainly more than a common average crop, and tells much 
in favour of the skill and superior management of His Royal 
Highness's steward. 

As this very successful result arose no doubt, in a great 
measure, from the steward selecting richly cultivated soil, on 
the property of the most honoured when Living, and most 
lamented Prince after death, that ever possessed one acre of 
land in England, it would be bad taste, ungrateful, if not 
disloyal, on my part, towards our most beloved Queen, the 
virtuous wife and much loved children of such a truly 
good man, as the late Prince Consort, if I made use of 
His Royal Highness's name in this successful experiment, 
(an experiment, an example that the noble owners of property 
should all follow^ without a further effort to do justice to 
the memory of a Prince so virtuous and so famed for acts 
of benevolence, a proof of which w r e can see daily in his 
cheap model lodging houses for the poor, whose wants and 
comforts he studied, all of which stand as a monument now 
that after generations may love his children for his sake. 
The much lamented Prince Consort patronised everything 
that he, from a highly gifted mind on almost every subject, 
believed to be calculated to do good, and must long be held 
up as an example as a husband, a father and a friend 



PROFITS BY GROWING ELAX. 



9 



to the poor. I, like many others who live under and never 
begrudged to pay the taxes required to keep up the dignity 
of a monarchy, expecting and delighting to see and believe, 
that the crown is worn by a virtuous ruler and never polluted, 
annoyed, or disappointed by marriage, — watched the move- 
ments of the lamented Prince from the day of his marriage 
to our good and virtuous Queen with great delight and satis- 
faction up to the day when it pleased God to call him to 
another home more glorious and everlasting, and I can say, 
without flattery in recording in this book my humble opinion 
of the character of the late and truly good Prince Consort, 
u that his like we ne'er shall look upon again," and I do 
sincerely pray, that his son, His Eoyal Highness the Prince 
of Wales, may walk uprightly in his lamented fathers footsteps, 
in order that he may be equally loved as his father was, by the 
humblest as well as the most exhaltedof Her Majesty's subjects. 

I shall add on produce a paragraph from an Irish Newspaper, 
as evidence in favour of what I say mag be done by extra 
attention, in the cultivation and preparation of Flax : — « 

" Extraordinary Produce. — Mr. J. Corry of Mulian- 
"bury in the neighbourhood of Dromore, sowed last 
"season (1857) 15 pecks of Riga Flax seed on one 
"acre and half a rood of his farm, "the produce 
"when scutched at the Fintona Flax Mills amounted to 
M 120 stones payable, for this he received 9s. per stone 
"in the Omagh market of Saturday, thus realizing a sum 
li of £54." This is answer sufficient to upset the remarks of 
the editor of the "Standard" newspaper, who asserts that there 
was a decrease of Flax in Ireland from 1851 to 1858 because 
it was not found to pay. 

To these experiments I shall add several accounts of other 
Farmers in the counties of Down, Armagh, and Antrim, the 
leading Flax districts in Ireland, and also some English 
experiments. 



10 



DICKSON ON 



CHEMICAL MANURE FOR FLAX. 
If Farmers wish to grow Flax on ground that they consider 
not sufficiently prepared by manure to produce an average or 
middling crop, the following compound, which has been pro- 
posed by chemists who have analyzed the plant, as a manure 
has been recommended. After the land has been ploughed, 
and well harrowed, the compound should be sown broad cast 
on the land before sowing the seed :•— 

Bone "Dust 54 lb. cost about £0 3 4 

561b. „ 4 

301b. „ 2 8 

30 lb. „ 4 

301b. „ 6 



Sulphate of Magnesia 
Murate of Potash . . 
Common Salt .... 
Burned Gepsum . . 



£0 10 10 

The above quantity is sufficient for a statute acre, and as 
the expense is not great, experiment alone is the only way 
whereby Farmers can know the exact quantity that may be 
requisite for their soil ; as much depends on the nature as 
well as the condition of the land, and no teaching but that of 
practical experience can guide operations so as to be confident 
of success. 

MODE OF PREPARING THE LAND. 



During my visits to the continent I observed in the Flax 
districts, especially in France and Belgium, that the Farmers 
took more pains in preparing their ground for Flax, than they 
did for any other crop they grew, \hy deeply trenching it 
before the winter sets in, having ploughed down the stubble 
of the previous crop, which is always Barley, Wheat, or Oats, 
after being well manured; to grow potatoes or turnips they 



PEEPARING THE LAND POR FLAX. 



11 



clean up the furrows, and throw all the clay or mould roughly 
on the top of the ridges so that it may have the benefit of 
the frost through the winter, and the furrows being so cleaned 
the rain and snow as it melts gets away, and the land is 
always easily dried and in a labourable state ; if the weather 
permits they plough it deeply down early in February, and 
early in April they give it another deep ploughing, — and 
before they commence sowing they are prepared if they 
consider the land not rich enough, with a compost, which 
they collect purposely for their Flax crop through the 
winter, from shamble's privies, etc., etc., to which they add 
a quantity of Eape cake, and after giving the ground a 
light stroke of the harrow, they give the soil a light covering 
of this compost, leaving it, if damp, to dry but only sufficient 
to harrow ; they then give it a smart stroke of the harrow, and 
then it is in a fit state for the seed. Many use liquid manure as 
a quick fertiliser, which they gather purposely for Flax culture, 
and the quantity of both that are used they regulate from 
their knowledge of the condition of the land. The Farms 
being small, spade labour is the most common mode of pre- 
paring land for cultivation, and as 1jy the careful and exact 
method they have of the alteration of the furrows every season, 
they manage to have the ^hole field deeply dug over, in about 
four seasons. They have soil so deeply prepared, that it is more 
like our Garden Plots than common field ground. Some of 
the best Flax ground in Holland is that which has been 
reclaimed, and which consist mostly of sandy loam, shells, etc.^ 
etc. ; but here again the spade labour tells in opposition to the 
plough, as no people are better or I believe so well paid for 
their labour as the Dutch Farmers, and the spade is the prin- 
cipal Agricultural implement they use. 

Having explained the continental mode of preparing the 
soil for Flax, and the necessity of deep ploughing and deep 
trenching, which is decidedly the best labour for any crop I 



12 



DICKSON ON 



shall here introduce an occurence that may be deserving of 
the serious consideration of unskilled Flax growers. I re- 
collect being honoured with a visit at my counting-house 29, 
Broad Street Buildings, London, in February, 1*845, from Sir 
Edward Baker and several other gentleman, in all 6 or 7 
from Nolfolk, who had early been induced by a Farmer, 
Mr. Warrens, (who had grown a little Flax in 1843) to grow 
some Flax in 1844, on various sorts of soil, and each of them 
had their samples with them for my inspection, their 
instructor (Mr. Warrens) being in total ignorance of the value 
for differance in the quality of the article they had produced,— 
as he admitted the fact before the gentlemen alluded to, and 
that he had advised the sale of it to Net makers at 5s. to 6s. 
per stone. I found on careful examination that it was worth 
much more, as some was good value for 7s., some 8s., some 9s., 
and one lot well worth 10s, per stone, as it had every quality 
of the Courtray Flax, and also the rich gold colour by which 
Courtray is known. On questioning the gentleman that grew 
it, I found he had grown it on part of a field in which he had 
sown Oats, but seeing that the Oats had missed, he ploughed 
up a part and sowed it with the Flax seed, from which this 
fine specimen was produced. Although the other part of the 
field in which he allowed the Oat crop to remain was so 
worthless, that he turned his sheep to graze on it through the 
summer, and yet he had so luxuriant a crop of Flax, that the 
Norfolk Fanners that saw it felt astonished. Now the cause of 
this should not be lost sight, of, as it is an evidence of the fact, 
that Flax does not rob the soil of those materials that are 
requisite for nourishing Wheat, Barley, or Oat wops— as it 
appears to have grown luxuriantly where Oats could not be 
■produced. Again, it proves the necessity of deep treadling 
and subsoil ploughing in preparing land for the cultivation of 
Flax, and next to that, the necessity for a proper system being 
followed, as to the course of rotation in cropping. The land 



PREPARING THE LAND FOR ELAX. 



13 



alluded to had been worn out and exhausted under the 
ordinary management of growing surface rooted plants, such 
as Wheat, Barley, Oats and Potatoes, as they receive the 
principal part of their food out of the surface soil, and as the 
rain had year after year washed down the richest portions of 
the manure fom the upper surface, or active soil, until it 
became lodged in the subsoil, it lay there unused till the Flax, 
which has been known to grow 10 inches in 12 days from the 
time of sowing, reached it, — and as Flax, like Beans, Peas, 
Carrots and other deep-rooted plants, will grow on land that 
has been exhausted from producing surface-rooted plants, it is 
quite clear from this fact, that the Norfolk gentleman's land 
must either have had on the surface soil, matter sufficient to 
nourish the Flax he grew, or the subsoil must have had the 
benefit of the manures that escaped downward from the reach 
of the surface -rooted plants, for the Flax found its support in 
abundance, in some of the two, if not in both, hence, arises the 
necessity of spade labour, or subsoil ploughing, in preparing 
Flax as well as the necessity for a system of rotation, so that 
surface-rooted plants be always followed by the growth of 
deep-rooted plants ; and the practice of taking two grain crops 
off the land without a green crop being produced between 
them, be totally discontinued, as such a system will ever 
produce deficient crops, — and the land, if not thrown down in 
giass for years to rest, will become exhausted and overrun with 
scutch, daynettle, docks, and all kinds of pernicious, annual 
weeds. Farmers should also know that the roots of some 
plants will grow from three quarters to one inch daily, and 
that frequently the roots will grow deeper in the soil in one 
day than the top will grow in five or six, and that as Flax 
ranks in this class, it is requisite to call their attention to the 
necessity there is for their devoting their energies towards 
having their ground properly prepared, so that the roots may 
push onward without obstruction ; and as experience tells us 



14 



DICKSON ON 



it will not grow on fresh farm-yard manure, let those who have 
poor soil, and have not liquid manure to bring it up to a state 
fit to grow Flax, if they wish to grow it off-hand, plough their 
land in autumn as before advised, and early in February give 
it a stroke of the harrow and cover with old rotten manure 
as if for ridge Potatoes, and again plough level, say, to six 
inches deep, turning down all the manure ; then, in April, a 
good harrowing before sowing the seed will be sufficient. 
This being done two months before the seed is sown, the rain, 
combined with the moisture in the soil, will bring the manure 
into a liquid state, so that when the roots of the Flax plants 
overtake it they wi.U be revived and so moistened and prepared 
by it that they will have strength and vigour to enter the 
subsoil, whence they are certain, if it be clay, to abstract food 
sufficient to produce a luxuriant crop. 

Great improvement has been made in the mode of cul- 
tivating Flax, by the introduction of the Belgium system, 
since I grew it on three Farms in my occupation ; ONE, two 
miles on the Rich-hill Road ; another, in BpJlynahone, half a 
mile from the city of Armagh ; and the thikd, two miles 
from it, in the Town land of Ballymoran, on which I had 
works for preparing Flax by breaking and scutching it. I 
shall describe the mode employed by a neighbouring Farmer, 
who grew every year, the best Flax for quality or quantity, I 
ever saw scutched in my Mills. As he generally got from 
10s. to 12s. per stone for his Flax, and his Farm being next to 
mine, I watched his mode of cultivation with great care and 
interest. 

He selects for his Wheat or Barley a field in which he has 
grown Potatoes, and after growing one or other of these crops, 
in October he ploughs dcwn the stubble very deep, and as his 
land is rather of a light sort of mould he spade-trenches the 
furrows very deeply, and throws up the clay subsoil on the 
top of the ridge, in as rough a form as possible, to allow the 



PREPARING THE LAND FOR FLAX. 



15 



frost and air to act on it during winter; he shovels up the 
furrows clean, so that free vent for top water may be had. It 
remains in this state till March, when he makes another deep 
ploughing to prepare it for the sowing in April, and as his 
ground has been for years under spade cultivation, by annually 
planting one field of Potatoes on the ridge method, he has the 
surface earth well cleaned and a good deal of the subsoil 
worked up amongst it, so that it is, although naturally shallow, 
now deep soil. He ploughs it in March, when the harrows are 
put on, previous to commencing to sow his Flax seed, all fiat, 
without ridges, and he incurs considerable expense in cleaning 
the ground from weeds and roots, which having cleaned, he 
gives it a turn of the roller to insure the seed an even bed — 
and as it is of a light, loamy soil, he finds a thorough rolling 
requisite, for it consolidates the earth and insures him a better 
crop, a more even, and a finer quality of Flax than when he 
omitted what he esteems to be the most important part of his 
labour in cultivating Flax. 

DEEP DRAINING INDISPENSABLE. 

As thorough draining is now admitted to be of the greatest 
importance in the cultivation of all kinds of crops, it would be 
superfluous of me, after the celebrated Mr. Mechi's practice, 
to dwell upon the fact, and I need but remark how requisite it 
is in the cultivation of Flax, to have this part of the prepara- 
tion of the soil attended to, for if the land be neither drained 
nor subsoiled, so as to take off the under water, as soon as the 
roots of the Flax plant reach the cold till, or water, it imme- 
diately stops its growth, (just as a worm will turn that is 
trodden on) and it becomes so much injured that in a few 
days it causes the stem or straw of the plant above ground to 
become yellow, and that frequently when the plants are not 
more than from twelve to fifteen inches long, therefore the 



16 



DICKSON ON THE 



crop in such cases must become a failure. He who grows 
Flax, if his object be profit, must decide on sparing neither 
labour nor expense in preparing the ground in the way I have 
described, if he would be ranked among those who produce 
large quantity 2c&({fine quality ; for if the soil be left free, and 
clean of weeds, and be well pulverized, dry and open, so that 
the roots may penetrate downwards in search of food, as it is 
known that they do, often to the extent of three-fourths of the 
length of the straw or stem of the plant above ground ; he is 
certain to have such Flax, both as to length and quality, as 
will be prized by spinners, for spinners prefer Flax long, that 
they may cut or break it by their machinery into three lengths ; 
the fine yarns being obtained from the middle, and the coarser 
numbers from the ends. Farmers should never be satisfied 
with their labour until they can produce Flax fully three feet 
in length, as that is the sort which will command the market, 
and, as a consequence, realize a good profit on their labour ; 
but if, on the contrary, they neglect the draining of the land 
the cleaning of the soil, and other requisite courses of prepara- 
tion, and in the work of Flax culture follow the example of 
the careless sower who may be seen to scatter a sack of seed 
oats on the land, after scratching it over in a most slovenly 
manner, leaving all to be clone by the great provider, a 
bountiful Providence, whilst they fail to act the part of faithful 
stewards, they are, by such a course of mismanagement, 
certain to come out of the attempt to cultivate Flax, — minus 
profit. 

FALLACY, AS TO THE EXHAUSTING EFFECTS 
OF FLAX ON THE SOIL. 

On this part of the subject the careful analysis of the plant 
by professional men, Dr. Sir K. Kane, Dr. Hoggins and 
others have left me but little more to say than that, they 
establish the fact, that Flax, like all other plants, produced 



EXHAUSTING EFEECTS OF ELAX. 



17 



through the influence of our atmosphere and strength of our 
soil, must necessarily have, or abstract from it for nourishment 
a, portion of organic and inorganic matter, the fallacy of the 
more than common exhausting effects of Flax is quite manifest, 
for in its abstracting a certain quota of the substances of 
which the soil is charged by the manures — it does not leave it 
like a discharged cannon, cleared of its contents to the 
bottom, for as the plant bursts forth from the soil in its 
expanding form, it only draws in its train matter sufficient 
to make it shine as a light of one colour amongst the many 
brilliant and valuable productions of our climate, leaving behind 
it, (like the revolving fire-works in the Surrey Gardens) sufficient 
c material / plastic or combustible, to produce many other 
descriptions and colours of light equally brilliant and valuable 
to the producer. The question then appears to be very plain, 
and may be answered in a few words, thus ; I would say, 
bring back to the soil, next year, the ingredients or substances 
that the Flax, when on its way to perfection as a brilliant or 
light amongst our valuable productions, has drawn from it this 
year, and you have the land as if it had not produced Flax the 
year previous, and as on this point we have two gentlemen, 
eminent for their scientific attainments, — professors Kane and 
Johnstone — it would be superfluous of me to enlarge, or to do 
more than simply to refer the sceptical to their speeches at the 
Agricultural meetings, as well as to their writings on the 
subject : however, a system of rotation can be followed that 
will enable Farmers to produce Flax every year, if the 
substances abstracted by the plant be returned to the soil in a 
course of regular and judicious farming. The following 
course of rotation extending through a series of alternating 
crops, shews a period of ten years, before the Flax crop again 
comes into the same ground, and which must set at rest all 
doubts as to its exhaustion. 



B 



18 



DICKSON ON THE 



1 

1870 1 


Wheat 

Potatoes 

Oats 

Mead 

CloA r er 

Barley 

Potatoes 

Oats 

Mead 

Clover 

Plax 


1869 


Turnips 

Vetches 

Mead 

Clover 

Wheat 

Turnips 

Vetches 

Grass 

Clover 

Flax 

Barley 

| 


1868 


Beans 

Meadow 

Clover 

Barley 

Potatoes 

Oats 

Meadow 

Clover 

Flax 

Wheat 

Turnips 


1867 


Meadow 

Clover 

Wheat 

Turnips 

Beans 

Grass 

Clover 

Flax 

Barley 

Potatoes 

Beans 


9981 


Clover 

Barley 

Potatoes 

Oats 

Mead 

Clover 

Flax 

Wheat 

Turnips 

Oats 

Mead 

* 


1865 


Wheat 

Turnips 

Vetches 

Grass 

Clover 

Flax 

Barley 

Potatoes 

Peas 

Mead 

Clover 


1864 

Potatoes 

Beans 

Meadow 

Clover 

Flax 

Wheat 

Turnips 

Vetches 

Grass 

Clover 

Wheat 


| 1863 


Oats 

Meadow 

Clover 

Flax 

Barley 

Potatoes 

Beans 

Mead 

Clover 

Barley 

Potatoes 


1 1862 


Meadow 

Clover 

Flax 

Wlftat 

Turnips 

Oats 

Grass i 

i 

Clover 
Wheat 
Turnips 
Vetches 


| 1861 


Clover 

Flax 

Barley 

Potatoes 

Vetches 

Grass 

Clover 

Barley 

Potatoes 

Beans 

Mead 


1860 


Flax 

Wheat 

Turnips 

Beans 

Grass 

Clover 

Wheat 

Turnips 

Oats 

Grass 

Clover 


Acres. 


ooooooooooolo 

CN CMcMCNCN<NCNCMCNCNCN|CN 



Suppose a Farm of 11 fields, containing 20 acres each, 
to be followed on the above system, Flax would be only 
once in ten years in the same field, and as Flax, Clover, 
Beans, Vetches, and Peas, are deep rooted plants, I have 
taken care to so alternate them that they may come in 



CHOICE OF SEED FOR FLAX. 



19 



between the surface-rooted plants, and have also guarded 
against grain crops following each other, however, much will 
depend on the nature of the soil and the knowledge of the 
grower as to the adaptation of his land to the grains or root 
he may select, as different soils require a difference in rotation. 
In Belgium Flax invariably follows a corn crop, and that is 
generally Oats. The same system could be profitably pur- 
sued in this country in situations where wheat and barley 
cannot be grown to pay expenses and leave a profit, for 
example, in the vicinity of the Newtownhamilton Mountains, 
about five miles from Armagh, I have seen a prime quality 
of Flax nourishing on land on which nothing but oats of in- 
different quality could be produced, and also from the 
neighbourhood of Keady-town, and around that mountain 
district, I have seen Flax produced [of superior quality. The 
Flemish farmers bring in Flax in the third year of their seven 
course rotation, but these people till and manure their land 
for Flax culture at a labour and expense equal to what our 
market gardeners give to the culture of their onions or celery, 
hence is derived their ability to obtain from £100 to £180 
per ton for their produce. 

DIRECTIONS AS TO CHOICE OF SEED, 
AND TIME OF SOWING. 

I think that there has always been too little attention 
paid to this part of the subject, and that farmers always 
appear to forget, in selecting Flax seed, that seed, known to be 
from a good and fine quality of fibre should he 'preferred. In 
selecting seed Potatoes or seed wheat, barley, or oats, they 
prefer the most prolific breed, and the choicest sort for saving ; 
why, then, should not Flax seed be selected with the same 
precaution ? An experiment with seed saved from coarse had 
Flax, and with seed saved from Flax of good, fine quality, 
tried by practical men, would throw much light on this 



20 



DICKSON ON THE 



point, as it is questionable if seed saved from coarse, bad 
Flax, will grow so as to produce fine fibre, no matter how 
well or excellent the quality may appear to be ; however, as 
to the description, I should say (from the many years expe- 
rience I have had) that Riga seed is the best the grower can 
purchase ; and, as I have been for years both a grower and 
seller of the article, I know it to be so ; and although I have 
known Dutch seed to produce excellent crops of good quality, 
yet I have invariably found the Riga seed best suited to 
Ireland. The Russians grow Flax more for the value of the 
seed than for its fibre, because their soil and climate will not 
produce fine or valuable Flax, such as that produced in 
Flanders or Ireland, and until the harvest of 1858, their 
average price seldom or never exceeded £35 to £40 per ton 
for the best kind, because they allow the seed to become fully 
ripe before they pull it, and, as a consequence, it contains 
more oil than if pulled in an unripe state, — and coming to a 
more congenial climate, it grows better than any other sort of 
seed imported. Farmers should take care, in purchasing seed, 
to select that which is heavy, plump, and shining, and be sure 
that it is from a merchant who will not mix old seed with 
new, for although two or three years old seed will breard as 
well as new, or year old seed, yet it will not grow within some 
inches of being as long as the new seed, and therefore, when 
it is mixed, it is sadly against the grower's interest, as Flax 
spinners will not give within 20 per cent, of the price for Flax 
of long and short lengths, that they will give for even lengths, 
or what is termed by the trade well ended Flax. Flax seed 
before being sowed should be put through a close sieve and 
barn fanners, so that all other seeds of weeds may be got rid 
of; and as the foreign sowing seed cost the farmers at all 
times from 12s. to 15s. per bushel, when they cannot get more 
than 8s. or 9s. for home saved, of as good quality, I would 
recommend every farmer to sow each year as much fresh Riga 



TIME OF SOWING FLAX. 



21 



seed as will produce him sufficient seed for his following year's 
sowing, if he does not find an advantage to sow now and then 
from his own saved seed, without a fresh supply, however, I 
have no reason to apprehend that he will need one, as I have, 
in many instances known the finest and most luxuriant crops 
produced from home saved seed. Two imperial bushels, if 
sown on a statute acre, and the ground in good condition, will 
produce seed sufficient for nearly 6 acres where seed, not 
fibre, is the object 

I recommend from 2J to 2J imperial bushels to be sown 
broadcast, on an English statute acre (from the 1st to the 
20th April is the best time), as if less be used, the Flax will 
grow coarse and will branch out before it is more than 18 
inches to 2 feet in height, and as these branches produce very 
inferior, dry, and weak fibre ? compared with what grows on 
the stem or stalk, and generally disappears in retting (a system 
I denounce), it is another evidence of the truth in the saying 
thai a unity is strength," for to me it appears that the plant 
after it grows 18 inches to 2 feet, has not in itself juice or oil 
sufficient to support three or four separate branches, and the 
pull on it from the great number of seed capsules, all of 
which are draining the oil fiorn the main trunk or stem, so 
extracts the oil and sap, that not only does the fibre on the 
stem, which will be short, dry, and brittle, be much dete- 
riorated, but that which is produced on the branches be almost 
worthless. But when sufficient quantity of seed is sown, the 
plants are thrown up close, delicate, and lengthy, with but one 
lenter or top, until near three feet, and sometimes three feet 
and a quarter high, on which will be two or three seed bolls 
or capsules, and being close they quickly shoot up and become 
tallt just as young fir trees do when too thickly planted, and 
as a consequence, all the fibre is produced on the one stalk — 
and the farmer has from this course of management a l&ng, 
fine, and valuable quality of Flax, and at least one-fourth more 



22 



DICKSON ON 



in weight, as well as in value, to that which their sowing 
would produce. 

DIRECTIONS AS TO SOWING. 

The land being well cleaned, pulverised, and in proper 
state of tilth, from good harrowing and hand-picking, 
it should be made level by rolling, but to guide the sower 
it should be marked off in divisions like ridges of six or seven 
feet in breadth, in order that he may give a regular and 
equal supply of seed, to each and all ; this done, the seed 
should be sown broadcast, — and as the seed should not be 
more than one inch covered when the harrowing and rolling 
are finished, — a very light, short tooth-seed harrow, should 
be drawn to and fro over each marked division, and having 
got over the field in this manner, it should be all gone over 
anglewise, as that will spread the seed more equally, and the 
small drills that are made by the teeth of the harrow in the 
first instance, will be obliterated. Having finished the har- 
rowing in this way, if the ground be in such a state that the 
earth will not adhere to the roller, it should be well rolled, 
as such labour is indispensable on all soils, especially on light 
soils, for as the seed is small, the earth that covers it should 
be reduced to mould and made free from lumps, so that the 
bud which grows into the air may get up freely, at the same 
time the rolling brings the earth round the seed into a 
firmness that is requisite to create the moisture that softens 
and swells it previous to its budding. 

THE WEEDING. 

This very essential part may be very easily got over if c^re 
has been taken in cleansing the soil at the time of ploughing 
and harrowing, and if attention has been paid to the seed 
being properly cleaned previous to sowing, but as some seeds 
of weeds may have escaped notice, any that may appear 



HARVESTING OR PULLING FLAX. 



23 



should be carefully pulled. I observed on the continent 
(during ray visit, for many years) that they practised this 
operation as I have seen it done in Ulster. Women and 
children perform the work by creeping foot by foot on all 
fours with their clothes made rather tight, and coarse bandages 
on their knees, as walking over the young plants with shoes 
filled with nails (as the workpeople have them in general) 
would so injure some of the plants as to prevent them getting 
up again, the weeding should all be done one way by the 
workpeople facing the wind, so that any plants laid down by 
the operation, the wind might restore them to an upright 
position. This is the old and best method of doing the work. 

HARVESTING OR PULLING THE CROP. 

As this operation generally takes place before the time of 
grain cutting, if the Flax be got in early in April, the crop 
should be visited daily the last fortnight in July, as by that 
time it will be ready for pulling, and as the time for pulling is 
a matter or point that requires a person of some practical 
knowledge to determine, a little instruction on this important 
part is very requisite. The best time for pulling is when the 
straw or stalk, for about two-thirds of its height from the soil, 
becomes yellow, and the seed capsules are beginning to change 
from a green colour to a light brown : if it gets beyond this, 
the seed, aided by the influence of the sun in ripening weather, 
will draw up the coil from the stem, and consequently the 
Flax fibre will become brittle and dry, and the spinning 
qualities will be much deteriorated. In pulling, the operatives 
should take hold of the Flax underneath the seed bolls or 
capsules two-thirds down, but if there should be any short 
stalks, they should be left behind, pulled last and kept separate ; 
but if the ground has been properly tilled and prepared, well 
drained and without ridges, laid down flat and evenly, and 



24 



DICKSON ON 



good new seed used, there will be no difference in the length of 
the Flax. The pullers should be made to keep the root end as 
even as possible, resembling a painter's brush, as the more 
straight and regular it is kept in this operation the more 
the value of the Flax is increased to the spinner, and the 
grower will find himself amply repaid for any extra attention 
he may bestow, by the additional price his well handled Flax 
will draw, compared with the price he will see the slovenly 
growers obtain for theirs. The kandfuls of pulled Flax should 
be laid across each other diagonally, to be ready for lifting and 
the necessary operation of taking off the seed, which to save 
trouble and expense in tying and re-tying, should be done in 
the field at the time of pulling, as such work can be more 
easily performed at that time, previous to tying up in sheaves, 
than at any other time. This mode of management should be 
attended to at once, for there is great loss of seed if it be 
stacked or removed from the field until properly dry, and it is 
more easily handled when it is in sheaves with the seed off. 
If it is to be managed after the Belgium system, by keeping it 
over to the following year, it should be dried in the field, as 
corn, previous to being built in the stack, and well secured from 
vermin, as rats and mice make sad havock by cutting it across, 
which completely destroys it for any useful purpose. 

TAKING OFF THE SEED FROM THE STRAW. 

I recommend my Patent Portable Machine, on four wheels, 
for the taking off the seed. It is turned by a man, whilst a 
girl attends the Machine, feeding it with the top or bow ends 
of the Flax stalks. This Machine can be moved on in the 
field after the pullers, and with sacks and winnow cloths to 
prevent waste, will be a great saving in expense. A covered 
waggon in case of ram would be an additional advantage. 
The Machine will be found to remove all the husk as well as 



DRYING OR SAVING ELAX SEED. 



25 



the seed, without doing injury to the latter, and as a drawing 
of it will be found in another page or section of this work, I 
will confine myself to briefly saying that the seeding end 
consists of three fluted rollers, a large one and two small ones ; 
the two small rollers on the top or upper half of the large one 
which drives the small rollers, whilst the feeder stands at the 
end, and passes the top end or bows capsules through the 
open end, when once going through removes the whole, 
husks, or capsules, and seed, without loss or injury. • It is 
also a Crimping or Breaking, Washing and Wringing 
Machine. 

DRYING OR SAYING OF THE SEED. 

It will be much in favour of the grower if he happen to have 
fine and hot weather for this part of his work, as the seed bolls 
should be exposed as much as possible to the sun and air for 
drying, and in order that they may be well dried, turned 
frequently. If there be much leaves or broken Flax stalks 
amongst the seed, they will assist in the drying very much. 
Pass the bolls through a coarse riddle, and then through 
fanners. Everything should be done sooner than resort to 
kiln drying, for such a system will not be recommended by any 
man having an idea of the value of the seed, either for sowing 
or cattle feeding. Common sense must tell us, that seed so 
small as flax seed, will not admit the application of the heat of 
a kiln head, as the least over heat is calculated to destroy the 
vegetable juice, so that no dependence could be placed on it for 
sowing purposes ; and as to kiln drying it for cattle feeding, it 
is evident, from the small substance it contains that, if even 
soaked on a kiln head, much of the nutritious matter it contains 
must be shrivelled away or extracted by the heat. If the 
weather be moist, the bolls, or husks, and seed, should be 
taken to sheds, or under such cover as would admit of their 



26 



DICKSON ON 



being spread out thinly, leaving doors and windows sufficiently 
open to admit a thorough draught, and by this mode, with 
constant turning, say three or four times each day, the 
moisture would soon be got rid of as would admit of the bolls 
being brought into small heaps on a barn floor, when additional 
means may be resorted to towards promoting their more 
perfect drying, for example, as the husks with the seed are, 
when bruised or ground down with oats, beans, peas, or I 
should say, Indian corn, equally good food for cattle feeding, 
it would be of no injury to the bolls, but on the contrary, and 
greatly towards extracting the damp from them. If a quantity 
of wheat, barley, or oat-straw, cut in quarter inch lengths, 
were mixed with the bolls on the barn floor, as the dry straw 
would help to extract the juice or damp from them, and keep 
them open and separated, it would prevent their heating, and 
if the grower had in his "graineries any field Beans, Peas, or 
Vetches, it would also be an assistant to the drying of the 
bolls to mix all together, for as all will be found, if bruised or 
ground down together, and steeped in cold water, the finest 
compound that can be given to cattle. This method, or 
some such method of drying the seed bolls, would be found 
preferable to having them parched and shrivelled and left half 
useless from the oil being kiln dried out of the bolls and seed. 

Having finished my observations on the cultivation and 
gathering (in the harvest) of the Flax and seed, it now 
remains for me to show the way in which the straw or stalks 
should be treated for our textile fabric ; and as I have some 
late discovery and inventions to bring before the public, I 
consider it better to first follow out the instruction of retting 
or watering, and grassing, as practised in the North of Ireland 
and on the continent, where, to gain information, I have 
travelled for years, so that persons who are prejudiced in 
favour of the general method of preparing the fibre by 
decomposition in tanks of water, may be instructed in the best 



MIXING FLAX SEED. 



27 



way of doing so, by such, practice. This I consider is the 
more necessary as the system of steeping in HOT WATEB, and 
of steaming Flax straw, has got so much into disfavour in 
Ireland, as to be condemned by the Flax spinners, and in 
most cases abandoned altogether by the patentees or oeig-i- 
NATOKS, and those that unfortunately adopted their method of 
operating on Flax straw. 

MIXING OF FLAX SEED, AND SELLING 
OLD FOR NEW. 

It is a sad and lamentable affair, after the hospitality, free- 
- dom of speech, and protection, which the British Government 
gives to foreign refugees that come to England, to find that 
they so far forget their position as to forget all that is honour- 
able in. dealing ; and as the growth and preparation of Flax 
in Yorkshire must have been severely injured by the unpar- 
donable offence of mixing and selling old seed for new Eiga 
seed, I must here notice what I have been told by Mr. John 
Boyle, a man who thoroughly understands the cultivation of 
Flax, from forty years practical experience, and who is a man 
above making false assertions. 

Mr. Boyle wanted new Eiga seed for his customers. He 
called on a certain merchant in Leeds and saw samples, but 
insisted on seeing the bulk. One of the clerks being rather 
green, and not up to the truly unfair conduct of his 
employer, allowed Mr, Boyle to go upstairs, and there he 
found, much to his annoyance, the mixing process going on, 
knowing, as he did, that such a practice would be the death- 
blow to Flax culture in Yorkshire. Let the guilty ask him- 
self if he, by such conduct, deserves the protection our country 
gives to the runaways of all nations. 



28 



DICKSON ON 



WATERING, COMMONLY CALLED 
RETTING, IN IRELAND. 

This is the most important part of the whole process and 
labour requisite in the preparation of Flax, previous to its 
being brought to market, for without the greatest of care and 
attention, the grower's labour may be (even after producing 
an abundant crop) half lost, and he may remain in total igno- 
rance of the cause of it. I think proper to notice this fact 
early, in order to prepare him for what he may expect if he 
depend on servants, or others, attending to what he will find 
to be, if directed by himself a source of profitable amusement ; 
for, as in directing the work requisite in the process of watering 
Flax, a person of educated and scientific knowledge, will have 
an advantage over the uneducated — there is in this part of the 
science, to be learned, a wide field for improvement and study, 
and particularly for those who have an idea of the cause and 
effect of fermentation. In the first place, the stalk on which 
the Flax has been produced is, when pulled, as tough as 
wood of the rattan sort, and that, from the fibre being bound 
round it, as tight as if it was actually glued to it, the question 
is, How is the fibre to be got separated, and clean off the wood 
or stalk ? Many plans have been resorted to by men of ex- 
perience in chemistry, and especially by linen and cotton 
bleachers, who have practical experience in the use of alkalies 
and bleaching liquids, and with those I have known steam 
pressure used of a high degree, and without success, for in 
every instance where chemical substances have been used, in 
trying to separate the fibre of Flax from the wood or stalk on 
which it is produced, the spinning qualities of the fibre have 
been destroyed, lor the gluten, or adhesive matter, so necessary 
in causing the fibres to adhere to each other, as they pass 
through the hot water in the trough of the spinning frame, 



WATERING OR RETTING FLAX. 



29 



being once removed by chemical compounds, the fibre 
becomes almost worthless. The question then is, how can the 
fibre be freed from the wood without injury ? the only answer 
that I can at present give, is, be guided by the following 
directions and you are certain to separate the fibre from the 
stalk on which it has grown, without injury to the spinning 
qualities of the Flax, such as are still generally used in making 
yarns for linen goods. 

If the grower be near to a river, or small stream of soft 
water, he should dig and prepare his pit, as near as he could, 
by a sluice, fill it at any moment. He should dig down, from 
three feet and a half, to four feet deep, and make from ten to 
twelve feet broad, and judge of the length according to the 
quantity of Flax he has to steep ; and as water, coming from 
iron or copper minerals should never be used, spring water, 
on this account should be avoided, but if used, it should be 
collected some months before being used, so that the air and 
sun may extract the gaseous impurities ; therefore, river water 
being the best, let the pit be filled from two feet to two and 
a half feet with water, and let one or two persons strip and 
go into the water, and take the bundles of Flax one hy one 
and pack them in a leaning or a sloping position, the root end 
downwards, and the top leaning off : let this be done from the 
upper part of the pit downward, packing the sheaves in rows, 
and by that time, the two and a half feet of water will cover 
the Flax, and the pit will lastly have in it three and a half 
feet of water. It is then necessary to cover it with rushes or 
ragweeds, previous to covering closely with moss, sods, or old 
lea sods, which may be used as they are the most easily gotten. 
The cover is to prevent the air and light affecting it. The shear 
end of each sod should be fitted so as to make a perfectly close 
cover ; and as the fermentation will cause the Flax to swell, 
additional weights should be laid across it, such as planks or 
poles of timber. It having been proved that the water in 



30 



DICKSON ON THE 



which Flax has been steeped is equal for many purposes to the 
best liquid manure, I shall hereafter specially notice it. I 
recommend a second pond being made, sufficiently deep to 
drain off all the water by a sluice from the first pond, and 
when the Flax is sufficiently steeped, as it will be in from ten 
to fifteen days, according to the nature of the water and 
temperature of the weather, drain off the water : but, before 
the water be let off, the grower should see that the Flax has 
had sufficient time in the water, and as it is to this I refer, 
where I say, <c the grower's labour may be half lost," etc., it is 
necessary to call particular attention to it. The object 
in placing the plant under water until the mass becomes so 
putrid that fermentation sets in, is to rot or decompose the 
woody part on which the Flax has been produced ; as the old 
system appears, to some parties, the best way to free the fibre 
from the firm grasp it has of the wood, without being altogether 
injurious ; and as, by the process of fermentation, the water is 
so heated as to abstract all the putrid matter from the fibre, 
until the water itself becomes so rotten and acid, as to rot the 
wood or stalk on which the fibre has grown. Care must be 
observed, at this stage, that the Flax be not too long in the pit, 
for a few hours too much, after the fermentation has got to its 
height, and commences to subside, may do the fibre great 
injury, as frequently the change is very rapid, and in that case 
the fibre is much tenderer and weaker ; therefore, after it has 
been eight days in the water, if the weather be warm, it should 
be looked after two or three times a day, and a few stalks, 
taken from several places in the pit, examined, and if, by 
breaking the stalks in two or three pieces five or six inches apart, 
it is found that the broken pieces will leave the fibre freely from 
end to end, without tearing any of the fibre with them, the whole 
of the Flax may be removed from the pits when the water is 
drained off. This should be done by men going down into 
the pit, and without the use of fork or any implement, the 



BELGIUM SYSTEM OF STEEPING FLAX. 



31 



Flax should be carefully lifted by the hand out on the bank, 
where it should remain for twelve or twenty hours on the root 
ends, to allow all the water to leave it, and care taken that 
the water so drained be run into the seeond pond, to be 
managed as I shall hereafter describe, and as light colour is 
preferred, a few buckets of clean river water thrown upon it 
before being removed to be spread on the grass would serve 
the purpose. 

BELGIUM, OE CQURTRAY SYSTEM OF 
STEEPING FLAX STRAW. 

This method of softening the fibre, and getting rid of the 
gum or resin which binds the fibre to the wood or pith on 
which it is produced, cannot but be acknowledged as the best, 
when we consider that no Flax comes into England, in point 
of value, equal to Courtray Flax, and as I ? place my facts 
before the public (not flimsy theories^, I shall show the oppor- 
tunity I have had of judging of their practical value. 

During twelve years residence in Belfast, from 1830 to 
1842, engaged in the selling of yarns, and the purchasing of 
Flax for English spinners, giving employment to from 1,500 
to 2,000 weavers, making all kinds of linens, sheetings, drills, 
damasks, and cambric, and turning over from £5,000 to £6 ? 000 
per month, in one bank (the Northern Bank), I had the best 
opportunity that an individual could have of knowing the dif- 
ference ia the strength and value of all kinds of Flax ; 
and as we often had 1,000 weavers in the vicinity of Bally mena, 
Ahogill, and Maghrafelt, making both light and heavy, fine 
linen, and 1,200 weavers in Lurgan, Banb ridge, and Guilford, 
making LINEN DRILLS, DAMASKS, LAWNS, and cambric hand- 
JcerchiefS) I fearlessly assert that we never could get yarns 
from any Flax but Cqtjrtray, spun above 70 lea, on which 
we could depend for prime ivarp yarns. Our best supply was 



32 



DICKSON ON 



70 lea, from Messrs, German, Petty," and Co., Preston, spun 
from Courtray Flax, and all our warp yarns above that were 
from Messrs. Hives and Atkinson, of Leeds. We often got 
70 lea spun from best Irish by Messrs. Crosthwait, of Dublin, 
very good for light linen, but the price was up to the price 
charged by Messrs. German, Petty, and Co., and we could not 
depend on its being regular as we could on the Courtray. 
The reader will see with such practical proofs of the strength, 
the real value of yarn spun from Courtray Flax, compared 
with the production of all other countries, that, in the course 
of preparing, there must be, in Courtray, some novelty the 
others do not practice. 

Now, as I have travelled through the Flax districts on the 
continent, and watched with attention and great interest, the 
way in which the Courtray system of steeping, (for I deny it 
is retting) is carried on, a few words will suffice to show, how it 
is that the Courtray Flax is stronger than the decomposed 
fibre. Crates, not unlike those used by Delft and China 
merchants, for packing purposes, are brought to the river 
Lys, a fine stream of soft ivater. Water, soft and pure, is 
requisite. Stakes are then driven into the bed of the river 
to which the crates are fastened, lest they should be carried 
away by the stream, The Flax straw is then packed in the 
crates and bound so that it cannot float out, the water passes 
through, and the friction produced by its passage through the 
Flax straw macerates or softens the resin or gum. The water 
carries with it all the colouring matter which, in pits, necessarily 
remains in the Flax, and hence it is that the Courtray colour 
is invariably a light yellow or cream colour ', the fibre clear, 
clean, and strong — whilst the Dutch and Flemish Flax is dark 
and full of the rotten dust, which the decomposition of the 
wood or pith causes to adhere to the fibre. Such are my 
views, and I cannot but think that there is, in England and 
Ireland, water sufficiently pure to prepare Flax on the same 



SPREADING AND LIFTING FLAX. 



33 



principle, if the matter were placed in proper hands ; scientific 
men, such as Sir R. Kane, who have made the Flax plant 
their study. 

GRASSING, OR SPREADING, AND LIFTING. 

After the Flax is removed from the steep, the next opera- 
tion is that of Grassing, or Spreading, as some term it. 
This process is not only requisite in order that the water may 
be finally drained off and extracted from the plants by the 
heat of the sun and current of air, but if the Flax be not 
sufficiently watered, the damp grass (as it is generally on new 
mown meadow or grass land, well cleaned, that it is spread), 
and the dews at night will help to finally finish it ; and it will 
be found to take from six to twelve days on the grass, ac- 
cording as it has been watered before it was ready for lifting. 
If spread on pasture ground all docks, thistles, ragweeds, &c, 
should be mowed clean off, so that the Flax may be even and 
thinly spread on the grass, as that will assist its being gathered 
up evenly, and tied in sheaves when finished ; but, as the sun 
changes the colour unless it gets to it all equally, it should be 
turned every other day while on the grass with a rod about 
seven or eight feet long, and one inch and a half round ; if it 
be turned before rain (if rain should happen to be near) 
all the better, as rain settles it on the grass, keeps it from 
being blown about, and facilitates the finish of this process. 
When it is ready for lifting the wood will easily break, and if 
it separate from the fibre readily, leaving it unbroken, it has 
had sufficient of the grass, sun, and air, but if near to a Flax 
scutching mill, a sheaf should be cleaned before it is lifted, 
unless a practical person has seen it, and is confident of its 
being finished. 



c 



34 



DICKSON ON 



LIFTING THE STALKS OFF THE GRASS. 

Lifting the stalks off the grass is a matter that requires 
some attention, as keeping them straight and the ends even 
prevents loss in the breaking and scutching mills, which is 
the next process, and if it be built in small stacks in the field, 
so that the air may get through it freely, previous to its being 
built in the stackyard, to stand over-year, it will serve it very 
much ; for, as the old foolish system of fire-drying is now so 
well known to be ruinous that comment is unnecessary, it 
cannot be too strongly impressed on the grower's mind, how 
requisite it is, to have it well dried by the sun and air, previous 
to building in the stackyard, to stand over-year in a large 
rick, for then it will only require a little exposure to the sun 
and air in coming spring and summer, as it is opened up and 
made into handfuls for the next operation. 

WEEDS IN FLAX. 

Several persons, for whom I haye imported seed from 
Belfast, have, from time to time, complained of the injury 
sustained by great numbers of the Flax plant, from a weed 
commonly called ei dodder/' the seed of which had been allowed 
to remain amongst the Flax seed. For the guidance of 
growers I insert the following extract from a paper, on the 
parasites of crop and pasturage plants, by Dr. Mateer, Professor 
of Botany in the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, shewing 
the necessity of selecting Flax seed free from an admixture of 
other seeds, or at least of separating all other seeds, by sifting 
before sowing : — 

" Plants which grow on the same soil with crop or pasturage 
plants, in plenty, are hurtful, by taking away the nourishing 
ingredients of the soil ; yet they become much more so, when, 



FLAX STEEP FOR MANURE. 



35 



as in the case of parasites, they grow on other plants, and at the 
expense of their proper sap. The dodders are remarkable for 
their destructive effects in this way, those in particular infesting 
the clover and the Flax. The former kind is not met with 
here, -but the Flax dodder does often occur. Last year, I had 
some samples of Flax given me on which the dodders were 
abundant, and it was mentioned as being of general occurrence 
in many fields. Like a bundle of entangled threads, these 
plants lie on the Flax, twisting round the stems and binding 
them together. Such samples are usually not so fully grown 
as others. Fortunately this kind is not indigenous, being 
brought over with the seed of the Flax, and mostly the Odessa 
or Riga Flax seed. The indigenous dodder is ^said to grow on 
Flax ; but it is believed that it is always this exotic species 
that infests it, and it does not appear, notwithstanding the 
yearly renewals of it, that the parasite is likely to become 
naturalised." 

FLAX STEEP, OR WATER, A LIQUET MANURE. 

Having advised that the water in which Flax has been 
steeped or retted, should be taken care of because of the 
fertilising properties of the matter it contains, and the proof I 
have had of its value during the year 1847-8, in the cultiva- 
tion of flowers, as noticed in two London newspapers, the 
Gardener's Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, and the Gar- 
dener s and Farmer's Journal, I will briefly refer to my 
experiments. I first experimented in my flower garden, 
situated in De-Beauvoir Square, London, using Flax water 
in the cultivation of dahlias. I selected six] plants out of 
thirty-six I had in my garden, and when about six inches long 
after having properly taken with the open air and soil, I gave 
them the same quantity of Flax water as I gave the thirty other 
plants of the New River Company's water every other day, 



38 



DICKSON ON 



until they all got on^to require it every morning. I soon found 
the plants treated with the Flax steep to get ahead of the 
others, and I continued to treat them in the same way 
regularly, between five and six o'clock every morning, and very 
soon found that ordinary sticks were useless, as the six plants 
got up fully six feet high. I then purchased three dozen of 
iron rods of 10 feet each, and having placed them also round 
the plants, I commenced my work with soft twine, to spread 
and tie up, until I had three out of the six that were in the 
centre of clumps fully ten feet in height, whilst out of the 
thirty I watered every morning with the New River water, 
and in the same proportion as I used the Flax water, none of 
them grew above four feet in height, nor were the stalks half 
so thick as those that got the Flax water — but this was not 
all, for my toil was well repaid by the magnificence of the 
bloom — for never was the snowball made more round and 
perfect than those beautiful white dahlias, which appeared in 
scores on the overgrown plants, to the admiration of all who 
saw them, and two gentlemen, Mr. Neil and Mr. Bamstead, 
expressed their high admiration of them. The flowers were 
large, and as close as could be packed from the centre, until 
they turned round to the stem, and appeared as a snowball, 
I had also spotted, yellow, scarlet, and crim son, equally large, 
perfect, and beautiful — and I sent specimens to Mr. Mardock, 
of the Regent's Park Botanical Gardens, London, and also 
to Professor Lindley, editor of the Gardener's Chronicle. I 
also tried it on the roses and geraniums, for the killing of 
green flies, and for that purpose nothing could be got like it, 
and in the cultivation of hydrangias I found it equally useful, 
as nothing could exceed the blow I had in 1848. From the 
above facts I can recommend its use, confident that the lovers 
of flowers will not be disappointed in trying, as I have done, 
the experiment, for as I know, Flax water, when let out of 
the pits in Ireland, at my own mills near Armagh, killed the 



FLAX SEED FOR CATTLE FEEDING. 



37 



trout and other small fish in a rapid running river, it struck 
me that I could not be disappointed in using it on the little 
pests that were destroying my roses and other flowers, it 
therefore served the double purpose of destroying'Jthe insects 
and of feeding the plants, in short, it is an excellent liquid 
manure. 

Judging from those experiments, and observing Sir Robert 
Kean's remarks on the experiments made, by his advice, at 
Market-hill, as described by the parties at the Market-hill 
Agricultural Society's meeting, I have advised a second pit to 
be prepared, at least three feet and a half lower than the first, 
as a receptacle for all the water or matter which may drain 
from it, and as charred ashes can be procured by any farmer 
who has bog ground, or old meadow ground, I should say that 
a proper quantity should be prepared, and drawn to the pit 
Should there be no dry ashes, turf mould, or rubbish and 
weeds, will be sufficient to absorb the fertilising matter that 
the steeping in water, heated by fermentation, had abstracted 
from the Flax during the macerating process, and having it 
thrown into the pit to collect and take up the liquid, it should 
be turned out again to leave room for more steep water, and 
placed in a heap by itself as manure, or under, and as a 
bottom of a clungheap for the year, where it may imbibe other 
fertilising matter that may drain down to it from the farm- 
yard manure, and no doubt but it will turn up in spring equal, 
if not better, than the best manure made on the farm. 

FLAX SEED FOR CATTLE FEEDING. 

It has now been proved beyond any reasonable doubt that 
nothing can be had equal to linseed for feeding all kinds of 
farm stock, when ground and mixed with oat, bean, or pea- 
meal, and that although oil-cake, when unadulterated, has 
been found very good, it has not been found so economical as 



38 



DICKSON ON 



feeding on the pure seed, especially when soaked by steeping 
in cold water for twenty-four hours and prepared for cattle by 
being mixed with cut straw, chaff, or hay, as I have known it 
to be used by the most extensive and scientific gentlemen 
farmers in Ulster, and by one in particular, whose cattle and 
farm I had many opportunities of seeing as he (Mr. Edward 
McKane) lived within one mile of my farm at Ballymoran, 
(where I had Flax breaking and scutching mills, and where I 
resided up to 1830), one mile from the demense of His Grace 
the Lord Primate, within two miles of the city of Armagh ; 
and as I have been applied to for information on the subject 
by Mr. Thomas Duggan, a gentleman of Dublin, and have 
referred him to Mr. McKane for practical instructions, 
knowing him to be one of the most extensive and scientific 
farmers in Ireland, and having also been favoured with copies 
of the correspondence between these gentlemen, I cannot do 
better than give the questions put by Mr. Duggan, and 
the answers he received from Mr McKane, whose polite 
attention has been in keeping with his comprehensive views 
and desires to promote improvements in agriculture : — ■ 

On the subject of Flax seed for cattle feeding, I go back to 
1850 for evidence procured by a friend in Dublin to show by 
practice its superior merit. 

" 101, Middle Abbey Street, 

Dublin, May 8th, 1850. 

Sir, 

As I have been advising some tenants of mine, in 
Carlo w, to grow Flax, on account of the value of the seed for 
feeding cattle, as well as the value of the fibre, and have been 
told by a gentleman that you, so far back as 1830, had a 
steam apparatus for the purpose of boiling and steaming 
linseed meal with chaff, cut straw, hay, potatoes, etc., and in 
fact that you were the first gentleman in Ulster to find out the 
secret and economy of grinding and steaming, or boiling 



FLAX SEED FOR CATTLE FEEDING. 



39 



linseed with bean, pea, and oatmeal, may I request of you to 
favour me with a few lines on the subject, informing me of 
your expense, and the best method of preparing the seed of 
Flax for feeding cattle. Your compliance will greatly oblige 

Your obedient servant, 

TflOS. Duggan. 

To Edward McKane, Esq., 
Ballyharden House, 
near Armagh." 



"Benburb, May 12th, 1850. 

Sir, 

My absence from my farm prevented my receiving 
your letter of the 8th till yesterday. That must be my 
excuse for not replying sooner. I now beg to say that I do 
not grow Flax for the value of the seed for feeding purposes, 
but for the value of the Flax itself ; however, I have been 
able to use the seed without, I think, injuring the quality of the 
fibre. - The plan I pursue is to have the seed boughs (or bolls) 
taken from the Flax as fast as the Flax is pulled, by machines 
we call li Ripples," in order that the Flax may be put into the 
steep with as little exposure to the air and light as possible. 
The Flax boughs I then send to a corn kiln and have them 
well dried ; they will then keep for years. I get them ground 
as I want them. Should too large a quantity be ground at 
once, the oil being expressed fiom the broken seed it is liable 
to foment, and of course will not keep. 

With reference to your enquiry as to steaming food for 
cattle, I think that steaming is not economical, except the farm 
establishment is large; for a moderate farmstead I do not 
think, that a boiler that would boil thirty gallons of water, 
would cook perhaps twenty stones of turnips or potatoes with 
as little fuel as will be required to get up the steam for common 
cooking the same quantity in a 'separate machine. As far as 



40 



DICKSON ON 



my experience goes I do not put any value on boiling or 
steaming cut hay, or straw, linseed, beans, and pea meal, for 
all old animals, horses, cws, and pigs. I steep in cold water 
say twenty-four hours before using. For young calves, young 
pigs, and for one or two feeds in the day for dairy cows, I 
think well cooked warm food useful. 

I am, Sir, 

Your most obedient servant, 
Edwakd McKane 

To Thomas Duggan, Esq., 
101, Middle Abbey Street, 
Dublin." 

I am happy in having from Mr. McKane' s pen, through Mr. 
Duggan, his method of preparing linseed for cattle feeding, as 
from the many years he has had as a practical man, he must 
be looked up to as an unquestionable authority, for as he has 
spared no expense in bringing his farms at Ballyharden, 
(which I recollect him getting into possession of, about the 
year 1820) from a worn out condition to the highest state of 
perfection, his experience in agricultural matters are well known 
over Armagh, the most prosperous county in Ulster, therefore 
as Mr. W arrens, a farmer in Trimingham, Norfolk, has got 
his name up since 1843, in England, and also in Ireland, 
through the circulation of the Belfast Flax Society's Keports, 
as the originator of the secret of grinding and boiling linseed- 
meal into a mucilage for cattle feeding, recommending what 
Mr. McKane practised thirty years ago, if not more, mixing it 
with chaff, cut hay, turnip-tops, mangel wurzel leaves, and 
other roots. It is not doing justice to Irish farmers, and Mr. 
McKane in particular, to allow Mr. Warrens to plume himself 
on being an originator, while in reality he is as great a copyist 
in preparing seed for cattle feeding as he is in the science of 
Flax management after the crop has been grown ; and his 
several letters to me in 1843 and 1844 in my possession, will 



FLAX SEED FOR CATTLE FEEDING. 



41 



prove the fact : however, as the vanity of the man may be 
imagined from his own writing, I shall here insert an article of 
his from one of our Journals so that, Let era scripta manet, as 
proof of the facts. 

4 4 Mr. Warrens of Trimingham, Norfolk, in a letter to the 
Reporter, writes : — 

" 1 must now entreat the reader's attention to the following 
facts. 1st. That my earliest information on Flax was derived 
from Captain Skinner, the former secretary of the Belfast 
Society.* 2nd. That I engaged three of the same Belgians 
who formed the first staff of instructors to the Irish. 3rd. 
That with those men, I overcame difficulties such as were 
never thrown in the path of Mr. M'Adam, and attained at my 
own cost the very obj ect which he, the secretary, supported 
by the funds of an association, failed to accomplish. 4th. 
That my establishment for handscutching was the receptacle 
for the off-scouring of the workhouse, for the outcasts of the 
prison, and for the nondescript, idle race, such as few were 
willing to employ upon any terms. 5th. That most of these 
became expert scutchers, and none departed to seek more 
permanent employment without manifesting gratitude and 
improvement, both in morals and conduct. 6th. That the 
above remarks apply with equal force to girls and to women, 
who, thus trained to labour, obtained situations as household 
servants, and may be considered inndependent members of 
society. Need I refer to children and youths now in my 
scutching-room, contributing to the maintenance of their 
parents? While in Ireland they sit, as I understand, "scorch- 
ing their knees before workhouse fires," the scutching mills all 
the time performing their work. 

u I question whether a single youth taught at the expense 



* About the year 1843. "Wan-ens should have added — " and from J. Hill 
Dickson, of 29, Broad Street Buildings, London." 



42 



DICKSON ON 



of the .Royal Flax Improvement Society could be found, 
amongst the Teutonics of the North, capable of preparing a 
crop of Flax for market." 

How absurd such bombastic braggadocia as this must 
appear to the Committee of the Royal Flax Society, Belfast ; 
as that society has been the means of supplying the entire 
kingdom with instructions, for years before Mr. Warrens was 
heard of more than others of his equals, the tenant (middle 
class) farmers in Norfolk, and many years before Mr. Warrens 
thought of writing his pamphlets from their reports, and the 
letters and information he ingeniously obtained from me, for 
that purpose} at the very time he acknowledges that he got 
his earliest information from Captain Skinner, the former 
secretary of the Flax Society. The onus probandi he gives 
for the difficulties he overcame, are in keeping with his asser- 
tion that " it was doubtful if the Belfast Flax Society taught 
a youth so that he was capable of preparing a crop of Flax 
for market." As to " what the secretary of the Flax Society 
with ample funds failed to accomplish," but which he had 
achieved without help, and at his own expense, I am at a loss 
to know; but judging, ipso facto, that when he called on me 
in February, 1845, and acknowledged before Sir Edward 
Baker and other gentlemen in my office, at 29, Broad Street 
Buildings, London, "that he got a great deal of information 
from me on the subject," — and that he was then offering Flax, 
some of which he said he had sold to net -makers at 5s., and 
some 6s. per stone, which I knew was well worth from 8s. to 
9s. per stone. I should say that his apprenticeship is scarcely 
finished yet, and therefore, to assume being more capable of 
instructing parties in managing Flax than the Belfast Flax 
Society, and to publish such in a newspaper is, in my opinion, 
more like the act of a man non compos mentis, than a man of 
sound mind ; however, as it is an old saying that, virtiis nemo 
sine nascitur, I leave Mr.^Warrens to enjoy the profit and oiium 



FLAX SEED FOK CATTLE FEEDING. 



43 



cum dignitate, with which such egotism is calculated to inspire 
him, but I fear he is not possessed of the mind of the Spartan 
philosopher, whose maxim was, u Know thyself^ otherwise he 
would not write so of his deeds, and condemn a society from 
whose reports and my instructions he wrote his pamphlet. 

I observe that he has, in 1848, discarded his system, his 
ne plus ultra system of cooking Flax seed by boiling, and which 
for three or four years, he argued was the most economical and 
best mode of preparing it, and adopted the system of steeping 
in cold water, a system that Mr. McKane had practised for 
more than a dozen years, and which by his letters to Mr. 
Duggan, he recommends before all others. What must the 
quietly disposed Norfolk farmers think of the great novelty of 
the boiling secret, now, that he (Mr. Warrens) is an apprentice 
to Mr. McKane's mode of preparing it by steeping in cold 
water. - The following is an extract from the Agricultural 
Gazette on his blunders respecting box feeding. 

" Flax culture and box feeding. — I think it very important 
that gentlemen when they put forward pet schemes in farming, 
ought to be as correct, full, and fair in their statements as 
possible, giving in every instance an account of failure as well 
as of success, otherwise the incautious may be misled and 
seriously injured. I observe what I judge to be an error in 
Mr. Warrens' statement lately, of barley meal consumed in 
feeding twenty-eight beasts, only £4 ! If I recollect, Mr. 
Warrens' compound is composed of one part linseed and three 
parts meal ; in this case the account would be fourteen quarters 
linseed, £35, and forty-two quarters barley meal at 30s. per 
quarter, £63 ; together, £98, instead of £39, as stated." 

Guy. 

As to the system of box feeding, however commendable it 
may be, as to making manure, I would not credit it as true, 
that an animal shut up in a box or crib and allowed to remain 



44 



DICKSON ON FLAX SEED FOE CATTLE. 



lying on a layer of straw sprinkled over with its own excre- 
ments, could thrive as well as if stretched on a clean bed free 
from noxious gases ; the positive comfort of the animal, let 
alone the appearance of cleanliness, is a matter of no little 
importance to a farmer who delights in his profession. 
Having had an opportunity of seeing cattle shut up as 
described, I had no desire, from the stench arising from the 
boxes, to remain long an observer ; for, however useful it may 
be to keep manure close and allow as little as possible of the 
gases or ammonia to escape, I need not be told that neither 
horse nor cow could thrive any better, if at all, by being shut 
up in such a foul atmosphere. Some people, however, have 
little regard for cleanliness, their chief aim being to make 
money by a saving of labour, as there will be less work by 
only occasionally cleaning out the boxes, than if they were to 
be done every morning ; so that the filthy, or lazy system of 
box feeding, is, in my opinion, likely to be prefered by the 
slovenly only. 

I observe that as food for calves, Flax seed boiled and mixed 
with hay tea, is one of the very best substitutes for milk that 
has been discovered. A compound should be made from this 
tea mixture and skimmed milk, with the addition of bean or 
pea meal boiled as light as thin porridge ; and to prevent the 
mixture from disagreeing with the young animals, which a 
sudden change of food is certain to do, the quantity of milk 
should be decreased, and the tea from the Flax seed and hay 
gradually increased. The economy and the good results of this 
course of feeding, will soon prove to the satisfaction of the 
farmer that he has found out a desirable mode of economizing 
milk, by the gain of a substitute in Flax seed. 



PART II 



Instructions on Crimping or Breaking "Flax and Hemp Straw, Green or 
Betted, Kheea, &c, &c, by Dickson's New Patent Crimping and Breaking 
Machine— Instructions on Scutching Elax, by Dickson's Self-feeding 
Treble Beating, Scutching, Scraping, Brushing, and Combing Machine 
—Instructions on "Washing and Wringing Flax and Hemp, by the same 
Patent Machines for Washing, Wringing, and Drying — Eemarks on the 
advantages of the above Machines — Expenses and Economy compared with 
that of preparing Elax by the Breaking and Scutching Machinery in use in 
Ireland — Instructions on the mixing and using of the Patent Preserving 
Liquid— Observations on the above, as by such system and machines, Green 
Elax and Hemp can be taken from the field without Steeping (called ' Retting/) 
and can be made soft and fine at pleasure, so that it will receive and retain a 
permanent black that Sulphuric Acid, Muriatic Acid, strong soda, or 
spirit of salt cannot remove — Advantage of Dickson's permanent Dye for 
Cotton, Silk and Wool, as well as the several Indian Fibres, Flax and Hemp, 
(as xhibited in the Leeds Industrial Exhibition) dyed various colours. 



Crimping, breaking, or bruising Flax or hemp straw, Kheea, 
&c., whether in the green state as it comes from the field, or 
after it has been retted, is, so far as I can judge by practically 
working various machines, the most important part in the pre- 
paration of the plant, in fact, good breaking is three-fourths of 
the work required, for if the straw be broken through a series of 
coarse and fine fluted rollers there will be little wood to scutch out 
after, and as my breaking machines are kept in a beating and 
a rotary motion, springs and weights, so as to allow any amount 
of pressure I please to give, according to the quality that is to 
be prepared of hard or soft fibre, it will be at once observed 



46 



DICKSON ON 



by any one acquainted with the preparation of Flax and 
hemp, that my machines for breaking cannot be surpassed, if 
.equalled. 

The machine can be fed by a man or woman. No particular 
craft or skill is required further than to spread the Flax or 
hemp-straw level and even at the ends on the feed end, com- 
mencing at the coarse side, No. 1, and finishing with the fine 
side at No. 3 feed end. 

The great advantage gained by the new and peculiar 
features in the movements of this machine, arises from the 

IN AND OUT MOVEMENT of the CRTMPING ROLLERS, which 

admits of one end of the Flax or hemp straw being in the 
hand of the attendant, and as a consequence, not a stalk, reed, 
or blade of fibre can be lost, as it will neither be tossed, en- 
tangled, or disturbed, but when one end is finished, the elastic 
band is brought down the bunch, and the undone end turned 
into the machine for the same finish as the first, by this mode 
one-quarter more of fibre can be obtained from the same 
weight of straw, tq that got from any breaker yet invented, 
that has been worked, or known, or heard or. 

SCRAPING, SCUTCHING, BRUSHING, 
AND COMBING. 

This being the finishing part of the process, is one requiring 
the eye of a manager, a man skilled in the value of Flax and 
competent to judge of its being well prepared, for although 
any boy or girl can be trained in one day to attend the 
machines, yet it is necessary that a manager be over them 
to show them how to put forward and draw back the feed- 
drums, and to show them how they can get to understand 
when the Flax, Rheea, fibre hemp and other fibres are scutched, 
combed, and ready for market. 



WASHING AND WRINGING FLAX. 



47 



WASHING AND WRINGING. 

After the Flax and Hemp and such fibres as Rheea, Pine- 
Apple, Agave, &c, from our Indian empire, upon which I have 
been experimenting, have been broken and scutched and 
released from the wood and resin or gum, the part of the 
machine for washing and wringing through hot water, must be 
put into requisition, and as the tank for the LIQUID or WATER 
is placed on the top of the machine for BLEACHING, WASHING, 
and wringing purposes, with the agreed for and exclusive 
right and use of Messrs. Atkins and Sons patent carbon filter, 
a matter of the greatest importance in obtaining a clear white 
and a thorough bleach, and for such a purpose no filter has 
yet been produced equal to it. The operative has only to turn 
on the tap and BLEACH and WASH, HOT wring and HOT 
MANGLE at pleasure, according as the material be fibres for the 
use of cotton, silk, worsted, or Flax spinners, or be 
SHIRTS or other linens for household purposes. For any or all 
of the above uses the machines will be found to be unequalled, 
for saving in expense and expedition, and free from injuring 
material in the bleaching, washing and hot finishing. The 
hot water being turned on through the axle into the centre 
band or drum of the washing machine, a few turns will soon 
free the fibre from any green colouring matter, gum, or resin, 
without loss by decomposition: and the wringing machine 
being supplied with steam in the centre drum, over which the 
Flax and hemp passes, I am enabled, by the use of this 
machine, to more than half dry the ^fibres as they pass 
through it. 



48 



DICKSON ON THE 



EXPENSES AND ECONOMY. 

The expenses and economy in the working of my machines, 
compared with the very inefficient machines used in this 
country and Ireland, can be summed up in a very few words. 
Skilled labourers (such as men called scutchers) are entirely 
dispensed with. The machines will do double the work by 
being attended by girls at Is. per day, to that of Irish 
scutchers at the rate of 3s. 4d. per day, which I paid at my 
factory in London. — (See the report at pages 17 to 33.) 

MIXING AND USING THE PATENT 
PRESERVING- LIQUID. 

The mixing and using my Patent Preserving Liquid must 
be regarded as a matter of deep interest, inasmuch as nothing 
but practice will enable the operator to be always successful 
in producing the most favourable results. However, one thing 
is certain, by this process the fibre cannot be injured, as is 
the case very often in retting and decomposing by steeping in 
HOT or COLD water ; for, as the chief article used in the oil 
taken from Flax seed, Rape Seed, and Cotton seed, or oil 
from any other vegetable, to which we add a portion of tur- 
pentine, and as much ammonia as will make the whole com- 
pound into a saponacious liquid, when a similar number of 
gallons of hot water are added. Such a mixture must preserve 
rather than injure the fibre. Rheea, Flax, Hemp, or any other 
of the various fibres of India, to which I shall hereafter refer, 
being immersed in this liquid, will imbibe sufficient oil to add 
both to the strength and spinning qualities of the fibre, and it 
entirely depends on the operator whether he obtain fine or 
coarse fibre. As to the labour and expense of preparation, one 
thing is certain — that, from £12 to £16 per ton, even for the 



METHOD OF USING HIS PATENT LIQUID. 



49 



finest quality, will cover the whole cost for machinery, liquid, 
and labour. 

Vats for the purpose, being fitted with a false bottom of 
galvanized-iron plates, perforated so as to let the steam be 
spread regularly under the Rheea, Flax, and hemp, the fibres 
are suspended by holders on the vat, and the oil, ammonia, and 
turpentine, are all poured into the vat ; a cover being then 
screwed down, the steam is let on, and the tap that lets in the 
hot water at the bottom of the vat being turned, the water 
being the heavier body, forces the oil, etc., up from the 
bottom right through the Eheea, Flax, and Hemp, until it 
is perfectly saturated and finished. Every drop of oil 
that the fibre has not absorbed, can be drawn off at the top, 
and re-used. 

The Sheea, Flax, or Hemp are then removed, and worked 
through the washing and wringing machines, and if a perfectly 
white colour be required, a scald of soap and water will do all 
that is needful, but if strength be all that is wanted, I object 
to the use of much soap, although we have the authority of 
the firm of Messrs. Marshall and Co., of Leeds, to prove that 
soap will make any fibre finer in quality. This I admit, for I 
patented the use of urine and SOAP in 1854, but I found the 
soap dangerous in using it, and that it injured and made the 
fibre tender unless great care be taken, and although I. find 
that Messrs. Marshall have become owners of a patent taken 
out in 1856, by a man named Jennings, in Cork, who, after 
using all sorts of acids that are known to be destructive to the 
preparation of the fibre, finished up with, soap as his chief in- 
gredient. I have, therefore, only to inform Messrs. Marshall 
and Co. that I patented the use of soap in 1854, and that 
they have purchased from Mr. Jennings a patent taken out in 
1856, which is an infringement on mine — the date being two 
years after my patents were sealed. I therefore tell the public 
that Jenning's Patent, purchased by Messrs Marshall and Co., 
D 



50 DICKSON ON THE RESIN-BOUND FIBRES OF 

is a fraud — a compound from Claussin's and Dickson's 
Patents, of 1851 and 1854.* 

My views on preparing Flax and hemp, and also the resin 
bound fibres of India, cannot be better explained than by the 
following copy of a lecture given by me last spring in Leeds, 
on the "Fibres of India, and their adaptability to the pur- 
poses of silks, foreign flax, wool, an4 cotton," before the 
council of the " Leeds Chamber of Commerce,'' D. Lupton, 
Esq., J. P., President, in the chair, in the Council Chamber at 
the Leeds Court House. 

LECTURE. 

Sir, — In accepting the privilege of placing before you and 
the other gentlemen, members of the Council of the Chamber 
of Commerce, who represent the great staple trade of Leeds, 
my productions in fibres from East and West India, through 
my discovery of inventions, for which I am protected by 
patents, I feel the subject cannot be done justice to, unless by 
describing the results from my practical observations on the 
various plants named in the circulars which you have received; 
nor can any correct idea of their importance to the manu- 
facture of yarns be formed, except by a personal explanation 
from me. Such a course, I have also considered to be 
necessary, with a view to the extension of the principles of my 
inventions, to a practical issue, and their general adoption 
by the trade, rather than to the exclusive advantage of any 
member thereof; unanimity and co-operation being, in my 
opinion, indispensable to the success of the enterprise. The 
results of labour and researches, which have extended over 
twenty-five years, in the Flax, yarn, and linen manufacturing, 
and in the bleaching department of this industry, have led me 



* See Patent Office reports, on all Patents, to be had from fourpence to 
sixpence each. 



INDIA, HEMP AND FLAX, AT LEEDS. 



51 



to the conclusion, that certain raw materials hitherto com- 
paratively unknoivn, and their commercial value unappreciated, 
may not only be used with advantage in connection with the 
spinning of Silk, Flax, Wool, and Cotton, but may, in many 
cases, superseed their use in point of economy, texture, and 
durability. The specimens now before you, most of which are 
from India, are what I produce in proof of my assertions. 

Sir,— Every man who thinks seriously and feelingly on the 
past and present position of our relatives and countrymen in 
India, must agree with the opinion of that great and good 
man, Dr. Livingstone, namely, that there is something more 
than scriptural influence required to civilize and re-establish 
the Indian Empire. Indeed, the development of the vast 
agricultural resources of that great country, on a scale, com- 
mesurate with their extent, has been frequently urged by our 
legislators, as one of the most desirable auxiliaries to that end ; 
but owing to the absence of any known test of their value and 
efficiency in the particular direction to which I allude, and the 
ignorance which prevails upon many of the vegetable products 
of India, all have felt the difficulty of dealing with the subject, 
or of propounding any scheme for the adequate employment of 
the vast population. Nor is such my intention, beyond 
asserting, which I do with the greatest confidence, that India 
presents a rich field of enterprise to the manufacturers of this 
district, independently of its cotton plantations, and by 
availing themselves of which, they may contribute, in some 
measure at least, to the regeneration and future prosperity of 
that empire. 

Such material as that now before you from India, can be 
produced for spinning, at from 4d. to 6d. per lb., and it is 
important to know that the supply is unlimited^ or at all events, 
equal to an excessive demand. I have this information from 
unquestionable authority. I enjoyed the personal friendship 
and correspondence of the late talented Dr. I. Forbes Eoyle, 



52 



DICKSON ON THE RESIN-BOUND FIBRES OE 



of the East India Company, the greater part of whose life was 
spent in India. For the last three years of his life, month 
after month, I received from him all sorts of Indian fibre for 
testing and experimenting upon, and the result was perfectly 
satisfactory. Among other lots, forty large bales of wild 
Kheea fibre were prepared at my factory and sold at £35 to 
£40 per ton, although not operated upon by the patent liquid. 
Dr. Eoyle assured me there was no limit to the supply of the 
same material along the banks of the Indus, the Ganges, the 
Himalehs, and other places, and the reports of my much 
respected townsman; Sir James Emerson Tennant, on Ceylon 
fibres, are equally favourable as to the supplies. I also hold 
some dozens of letters from Calcutta, Madras, Ceylon, and 
Bombay, inquiring about my patent machines, in consequence 
of Dr. Royle having, in his last work on India, made use of 
my name as an inventor of machinery for preparing such fibre 
for spinning, with success ; and the East India Company also, 
with a vote of thanks for what I placed before them of 
prepared fibres, recommended me to apply to the Government 
in India for patents, when no such thing" as patents for India 
were granted to any one; this object was not carried out, 
owing to the English Government objecting to give such 
power to the Indian Government. I may here observe that 
such intermeddling policy has been one of the drawbacks to 
the industrial resources of India being farther developed. 
Lord Palmerston saw it, and now his successors see it, and we 
must hope for a better. 

The first, and I consider the most important part of the 
discovery, is that of the preserving liquid, which my friend 
Dr. Cregeen and I have found to be peculiarly adapted to all 
these Indian fibres, whose nature is not like that of Flax or 
hemp-— OILY, but dry and resin-bound ; we found that after 
we removed by the working of our breaking machine, and 
scutching, scraping and brushing, all the gum or resinous 



INDIA, HEMP AND FLAX, AT LEEDS. 



53 



substance that certain qualities of oils, Cotton seed, Rape seed, 
Flax seed, Cocoa nut, or Palm oils, with a certain portion of 
ammonia to convert the oil into a sponaceous liquid with water 
at a given heat, was Sufficient to bring into all those resin- 
bound fibres, a spinning quality and a softness equal, as you 
see, to any Flax, and to a lustre equal to Silk. In addition to 
this advantage, the fibres will take and retain a permanent 
dye— black in particulars—that neither sulphuric acid nor any 
known test will remove. Velvets and plush have been made 
in Amiens and Lyons, out of some of the Indian Eheea fibre I 
prepared for the East India Company, which was found to 
stand up in the pile and so much resemble silk that a French 
firm has offered to purchase my patents for France and 
Belgium ; and now the sale depends on my success in pro- 
ducing yarns and velvets, in Leeds and Manchester, from 
my produce, before I return home to London. 

The utility and advantage of my application of oil in pre- 
paring the resin-bouncl fibres of India, are further proved by 
the fact that the canvass and ropes used in Her Majesty's 
Royal Navy, can be made from them more durable and to 
bear a much greater strain, (in consequence of the OIL being- 
substituted for the resin or gum, which caused all such resin- 
bound fibres to cut or break wherever a knot was made) than 
canvass or ropes which are made from the retted — I would say 
rotted — hemps of Russia or Italy, all of which are steeped in 
pools of water for a month, in order that the wood or epidermis 
may rot, and the fibre released that surrounds it. The late 
Dr. Royle mentions this in his last publication ; he says : " the 
Indian fibres were proved to be greatly superior in strength to 
Russian hemp, by the most efficient tests applied to ropes, at 
Her Majesty's Dock Yards." 

With such facts to support my views, I think 1 am in a posi- 
tion to satisfy all but the enemies of progress and the narrow- 
minded, who are jealous of rival productions, though I know I 



54 



DICKSON ON THE RESIN-BOUND FIBRES OF 



have such parties to encounter, respecting the advantages of the 
system practically proved by experiments on tons weight of raw 
material, as I^have been employing four Irish scutchers, and 
from sixteen to twenty women in my factory, and I am 
enabled to say, that the old system of steeping Hemp and 
Flax, according to the custom in Great Britain and Ireland, 
Russia, Belgium and Holland, [is iv?vng in principle, and is as 
contrary to common sense as it is wasteful in practice. That it is 
wrong in principle to steep and decompose Flax-straw in 
water, and expect the decomposition will not tender the fibre 
(which we require and value because of its strength) in order 
to separate the fibres from the woody parts. I now depend 
upon the proofs that I have with me of plain, unvarnished 
facts— these are the yarns — No. 30 to SO's lea, prime yarns, 
spun by Messrs. Hives and Atkinson, from Flax made from 
green straw, in thirty minutes, Yorkshire Flax, had from that 
eminent firm known to be the best spinners of waip yarns in 
England, and grown by Mr. John Boyle, who thoroughly 
understands how Flax should be cultivated to suit my purpose. 
Twenty-one pounds passed through my patent machines, pro- 
duced in clean, long, green fibre, five and a quarter, and one 
pound of tow ; and this when put through the patent liquid, 
produced two pounds eleven ounces of long, clean Flax, and 
half a pound of tow ; whilst Mr. Arthur Marshall, of the ex- 
tensive Flax preparing firm at Patrington, in his reports to the 
Royal Flax Society, of Belfast, states that in three trials, he can 
only produce from twenty-one pounds of Flax-straw, one and 
three-quarter pounds of long scutched Flax. Now, this is 
not my only instance of producing nearly double the quantity 
from a given weight of green Flax-straw by my patents, 
compared to every other system yet discovered ; but, as I find 
there is a party in Leeds reporting unfavourably, it is with 
pleasure I refer to the noble and highly distinguished indi- 
viduals whose names I place before you, in all twenty, who 



INDIA, HEMP AND FLAX, AT LEEDS. 



55 



were eye-witnesses for hours in my factory of the working of 
my patent machines, producing similar results, the stuff being 
weighed before and after dressing, and I may state that those 
machines (my first patents) were not so perfect as those I have 
lately patented. The other yarns are 30, 35, 40, and 50 lea, 
spun from Indian Eheea fibre (my patent vegetable silk) first 
coloured green, blue, black, orange, &c., before being spun — 
and although spun through hot water, by Messrs. Hives 
and Atkinson, Messrs. Benyon and Co., Messrs. Briggs and 
Co., and Messrs. Hill and Son, the colours are scarcely, if at 
all changed, and the strength far exceeds that of Flax-yarns 
of the same number. The Aloe, Eheea, and Pine-apple fibre 
is to be had at £15, £18, and £21, in London and Liverpool. 

That it is contrary to common sense to so decompose Flax- 
straw, and dye the fibre dark, which must be made (and is 
naturally) white, is equally apparent, inasmuch as by the de- 
composition of the wood or stalk, the green fibre, as it softens, 
extracts and absorbs the dark slate -coloured matter out of the 
stalks or wood ; and as the wood rots into dust, the dust sticks 
fast like glue to the green, gummy fibre, so that, when the 
stalks are dried neither breaking, scutching, nor even hackling, 
will remove this worse than useless and expensive dye — a 
dipping in sulphuric acid must be commenced or resorted to 
before the weaver can work it into cloth, and then it is only 
brown cloth. Again, the additional expense of 2d. per yard 
must be incurred in the bleaching, thus adding at least 3d. 
per yard to an article that only costs on an average 9d. before 
it is made into a marketable state. Now, as I take my five 
and a quarter pounds of green Flax^ and wash it out white in 
thirty minutes, producing two pounds eleven ounces, in place 
of the one and three-quarter pounds of dark slate colour, pro- 
duced from the same weight ot straw by Messrs. Marshall 
and Co., I must allow those who hear my statement to draw 
their own conclusions from the facts, and from the respecta- 



56 



DICKSON ON THE RESIN-BOUND FIBRES OF 



bility of the witnesses I have produced, who were present 
when the work was performed. 

That it is wasteful in practice to so steep Flax or Hemp, I 
think I have proved, by a comparison of the produce by the 
old system and mine. 

1st. Loss by weight. 

2nd. Loss by giving colour that must be removed. 

3rd. Loss by having to bleach in place of wash. 

The above are facts that cannot be gainsaid, whilst linen 
made from Flax prepared by my system would not require the 
yarns being boiled, for mill- washing at three farthings per 
yard would finish linens for the market. 

Having previously described my method of preparing Indian 
fibres, Flax and Hemp, with the advantages obtained over 
every other system yet discovered, allow me to call attention 
to our increasing consumption of continental Hemp and Flax. 
Our annual reports being from £8,000,000 to £9,000,000 
sterling in value, the wonder is that our merchants will allow 
the valuable productions of India to remain so long compara- 
tively unknown, whilst the slave-grown cotton of America 
cannot be had to meet the spinning requirements of Lancashire, 
and applications are being made to Her Majesty's government to 
encourage its cultivation in India and Africa, — the fibres I 
allude to can be had without cultivation, and how far their 
growth might be extended and improved it is impossible to 
say. Most of us, however, have had some experience of the 
disfavour with which discoveries are at first received, and the 
apparent disadvantages under which they are launched, as well 
as of the small, insignificant circumstances from which the 
greatest results have arisen. 

I humbly submit to the antiquated " let well alone," system 
of preparing Flax and Hemp, which in its rude origin so strongly 
contrasts with the scientific advances in respect to our own 
agricultural productions, hand labour being now so much 



INDIA, HEMP AND ELAX, AT LEEDS. 



57 



superseded by machinery, that it is incompatible with the 
times in which No. 60 lea yarns are selling at 5s. 6d. per 
bundle, which fifteen years ago realised 10s. per bundle, 
although Flax is now as high as it was then. Not only is 
additional raw material wanted to meet the demand, but the 
improvements in the mode of preparing to create that addition 
to our raw material is absolutely necessary to further the 
object. My observations are not those of a mere theorist — 
my whole life has been devoted (the last twelve years in par- 
ticular) to the trade, and if my discovery and inventions, 
applied to increase the resources in fibrous productions meet 
with the approbation which I think they merit, I will freely 
place my patents and my time in the hands of a company of 
spinners and merchants, for the mutual benefit of all who 
may join in working them. 

The president, Mr. Lupton, having understood from Mr. 
Dickson that his visit to Leeds was with the view of having 
his Indian productions spun and woven (as they have been 
done in Amiens and Lyons, into velvets and plush, as they 
stand up in the pile and are more like silk than any other 
material") desired to have a supply of Rheea fibre that he 
might have them spun and woven ; and another gentleman 
present, Mr. Martin, had a portion of Mr. Dickson's Pine 
Apple fibre, with a view to its being spun and woven. It was 
then proposed and seconded by the gentlemen present that a vote 
of thanks should be awarded to Mr. Dickson for his explanation 
on a matter of such importance to the manufacturing interest. 

The compliment was acknowledged by Mr. Dickson with 
thanks. 

After having the quality of the yarns tested by weaving 
into plain cloth, drills, ship's canvas, and diaper, I had the wool 
or the shorts of the Indian fibres, scribbled as wool, and mixed 
and spun with wool, into yarns ; and as those Indian fibres are 
much of the nature of sheep's wool, and will shrink like 



58 



DICKSON ON THE KESIN-BOUND FIBRES OF 



woollen cloth, there cannot be a doubt of their felting qualities ; 
and as our mode of dying permanent black must make such 
fibres help considerably to supply the want now felt for raw 
material in Leeds, Dundee, and Belfast ; the following 
will show the necessity for a supply of new material : — 

Indian Fibee. 

' ' We have been favoured by the chairman of the Chamber 
of Commerce with a copy of the following correspondence, 
containing the reply of the council of India to the memorial 
from the Chamber relative to the growth of Flax m India. If 
those connected with the linen trade in Dundee, Belfast, and 
Leeds, were to join in forming a Flax Supply Association, 
we believe it would be of more service than any appeal to 
Parliament on the subject, as there is little doubt Parliament 
would abide by Lord Stanley's decision. The chief service 
that Government could render at present, would be in 
publishing in the Government organs in India the memorial 
of the Dundee Chamber : — 

"Baldovan House, Dundee, 18th Oct., 1858. 
" My Loed, — I have been requested by the Chamber of 
Commerce, of Dundee, to forward to your lordship the 
memorial and the printed report of a meeting on the subject 
of procuring a supply of Flax from India, which accompany 
this letter, 

(< In transmitting these documents to your lordship, I beg to 
remark that it has for a long time been obvious to those 
engaged in the linen trade of this country that the sources 
from whence the raw material is at present derived will, in 
future, prove altogether inadequate to the demand of this 
rapidly increasing branch of industry, and that, therefore, the 
question of how an increased supply of Flax is to be obtained, 
has naturally forced itself upon the attention of those most 
directly interested. 



INDIA, HEMP AND FLAX. 



59 



u The result of these inquiries has been to imbue them with 
a strong conviction that it is from our Indian empire that this 
supply is to be procured. Should their expectations be 
realised, the benefit to this country would be very great ; but 
the advantage to India itself would also be very considerable, 
owing to the profitable employment which the cultivation of 
Elax would afford to the native population. 

"As a proof of the magnitude of the linen trade, I may 
mention that the sum annually paid by this country for Flax, 
to Russia alone, amounts to fully £3,000,000. 

" As Dundee is the chief seat of the linen trade of this part of 
the kingdom, I need hardly urge upon your lordship the vital 
importance of this question to the memorialists, and to my 
constituents generally. 

"I feel sure that it will receive from the Council for the 
Government of India and from yourself, the attention which 
its gravity demands, and that, every information which the 
public records of India can furnish, and any assistance which 
your Board can afford will at once be given. 
" I have, etc., 

(Signed) "John Ogilvy, Bart, 
M.P. for Dundee. 

" The Rt. Hon. Lord Stanley, M.P., 
President of the Council for the 
Government of India." 



" East India House, 6th Nov., 1858. 
" Sir, — I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in 
Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th 
ult. Lord Stanley fully appreciates the great importance of 
the object which the memorialists have in view, and is most 
anxious that no means to that end should be wanting which 
are within the proper province of Government. The capa- 
bility of various parts of India to produce Flax of good quality 



60 DICKSON ON THE RESIN-BOUND FIBRES OF INDIA. 

having been proved by actual experiment, Lord Stanley 
apprehends that its introduction into this country, in large 
quantities, can only be looked for as the result of a well 
organised system of private enterprise, which must be brought 
to bear directly on the cultivators of that article in India. 
"I have, etc., 

" Cosmo Mellvill. 

« John Ogilvy, Bart., M.P" 



PART III 



The mechanical process of Hackling and Spinning Flax, fully explained— A 
correct scale, showing the first cost of Flax and description of the numbers 
up to which each quality is calculated to be spun— Instructions in the art 
of manufacturing all kinds of Linen Goods from Flax and Tow Yarns, as 
practised by the Author, in Ireland, for ten years, employing 2,000 Weavers 
—Tables op Calculations directing parties respecting the use of certain 
numbers of yarns, and the quantity required for "Warp and Weft for a piece of 
each sort — Method of counting the Warp and Weft in each piece fully set out 
on an unerring principle — Observations on the advantages of the above — A 
series of Letters*published in the Gardener 's Chronicle, Agricultural Gazette, and 
provincial|Journals, in 1845, 1846 andfrom 1854 to 1864, proving by some dozens 
of experiments that from £20 to £30 per acre has been frequently made by a 
proper method of cultivating and preparing Flax. 



MECHANICAL PROCESS OF HACKLING 
AND SPINNING FLAX AND TOW YARNS 
IN FACTORIES. 

FLAX when cut (as fine quality often has to be, especially to 
spin into fine numbers) differs very little (before the fibre is 
separated from the stem or wood) in app earance from strong 
coarse force grass. After being separated from the stem, as 
directed, it changes hands from the farmer to the spinner, 
whose judgment enables him to assort it according to the 
qualities or fineness of the fibre, and prepare it for the first 
process to which it is subject previous to spinning. 

A Flax-spinning mill, with the stores necessary for holding 
a sufficient supply of Flax should be so constructed that when 
the rough Flax has been stored, every move it gets afterwards 



62 



DICKSON ON THE 



should bring it a stage forward towards spinning ; therefore, I 
shall consider the Flax in the store, and ready to be handed 
to the next room ; the hand-hackler, who stands opposite a low 
bench on which his hackles are screwed, having taken a hand- 
ful of the rough Flax, throws about two-thirds of it over the 
top of the hackle, and through this instrument, which is com- 
posed of three or four dozens of fine steel teeth, the Flax is 
drawn rather quickly ; he repeats the process several times, 
and after turning his hand so as to clear out all the shorts 
(called tow) over this coarse hackle, and changing the part he 
first held in his hand, by holding what he had cleaned, until 
he cleans the other end of the handful or " streik v (as it is 
called), he then hands it to another, who is more skilled 
in working Flax on the finer tools, as they are called, and he, 
after putting it through perhaps two sets of hackles, leaves it 
ready for the sorting room. Another mode of preparation is 
by the hackling machine, which I shall describe as a cylindri- 
cal revolving implement with a number of hackles. This 
machine is used for cut Flam, or rather I should say broken Flax, 
about five or six inches long. Boys generally attend to the 
feeding of this machine by holders made of iron, in which 
they place a handful of Flax, and after using a hand-vice to 
this holder, to screw the Flax so tight that it will not draw 
out by the hackles, they place the holder on the wheel which 
revolves and draws the flowing Flax through the fine hackle- 
teeth until all the tow is cleaned out. This process is attended 
to by changing the Flax in the holder until both ends are 
dressed, and then it is carried to the sorting room, there to be 
selected, according to the numbers to which it will spin FOR 
WAKP OR weft. The short fibre, or tow, as it is named, un- 
dergoes a similar process, and can be spun ; into very level 
yarns for weft purposes. 

Hackling is a very dusty operation, and the only unpleasant 
part of the business, as many particles of the Flax fly about, 



PROCESS OF HACKLING. 63 

and it requires some care on the part of those attending the 
machines, when callecting the tow from those sharp-toothed 
implements. The tow hackled from the finer Flax is pre- 
pared for spinning by a carding machine similar to that used 
in the cotton manufacture, and in order to counteract the 
dust nuisance, I find it has been recommended to enclose each 
carding engine in a separate stall. 

The Flax being sorted, is next carried to the spreading or 
drawing frames, when the young operatives attend to the 
feeding of those machines ; this operation answers the same 
end as that to which the hand-spinners in olden times had to 
attend with care, when ' ' the ball and distaff arrangement by 
Arachne excited the wonder of the nymphs." In the simple 
process of spreading the Flax passing from this to the roving 
frames, the process continues in drawing out the slivers, which 
are delivered into cylindrical boxes until wound on bobbins or 
spools, ready for the spinning frame. 

I might here enter into a minute description of these 
frames, but I consider such would be superfluous, as every 
day alterations and improvements are made by the suggestions 
of the practical men who attend those machines. Flax is 
spun from the roving similar to that of long combed wool ; 
but it is requisite that the Flax rovings pass through hot 
water, which is supplied in covered troughs, on their way 
between the delivering bobbins and the spindles — a dew or 
spray is continually thrown off by the yarns, as it is rapidly 
turned and taken in by the fliers of the spindles ; however, in 
a well planned mill there is little inconvenience or. wet to 
be seen. 

Having briefly explained the spinning process, it is unne- 
cessary to do more than to say that the Flax is continually 
attenuated, by being passed through the different machines 
mentioned, until a roving is made perfectly even, after which 
it receives the torsion or twist that makes it into yarn. Before 



64 



DICKSON ON THE 



the invention of spinning by machinery, the process of 
attenuation was effected by the ringer and thumb of the 
spinner, hence arose the great superiority of the Hindoos, 
especially in the fine fabric, who, it is said, possess a delicacy 
of touch beyond that of any other nation, which apparently 
compensates for their want of physical strength. 

When we take into consideration the number of processes 
that Flax has to undergo before it is twisted into yarns, it will 
be seen that it would be utterly impossible to carry on the 
work of spinning, hackling, sorting, &c, in any other way but 
in a large mill or factory, as the succession would be exposed 
to serious injury if it were necessary to transport them to any 
considerable distance, to say nothing of the temptation to 
which the operatives would be exposed, and to which they 
notoriously yielded when spinning was a domestic operation. 
It is also to be remembered that the fatiguing part of all the 
process is performed by power ; the machinery is the servant 
and assistant of the operative ; it performs the toilsome part 
of the labour; it saves every expenditure of muscular power 
and mental energy, requiring from the operative nothing but 
careful superintendence, and as there exist very erroneous 
impressions respecting the hardships of factory labour, I would 
recommend the reader, or those interested, to visit the Flax- 
mills of Messrs. Hives and Atkinson, of Leeds; of Messrs. 
Eenshaw and Co.. of Manchester ; or of Messrs. German, 
Petty, and Co., of Preston, and as those are the most exten- 
sive Flax-mills in the three busy towns named, they will see 
that there is nothing to complain of, not even the length 
of hours that the younger portion of the operatives are 
subject to. 

Now, in conclusion, I beg to remark, as I have often found 
the Flax-spinners in error of judgment respecting the quality 
of their yarns that there is but one way to know warp yarns 
from weft, and but one way to produce what will please 



SPINNING OF FLAX. 



65 



manufacturers. It is not because a spinner has paid £80 or 
£100 per ton for Flax, that it must make 80s. or 90s. lea warp 
of prime quality ; it is not because it has turned out from the 
hackle silk-like in appearance, oily and fine, that it can be run 
up to 80 or 90 lea, and worth 7s. 6d. or 8s. 6d. as a warp 
article : quality I am aware is requisite ; but we must have 
strength of fibre to make warp yarn. I know it is difficult to 
spin good clean warp yarn ; why is it so ? — I will answer— 
We generally want yarns clean and free from what is termed by 
the manufacturers, c NEAP ' on the thread, which we see at 
once by shaking out a hank opposite a window and looking 
through it; but we seldom find it clear and free of this 
defect and also strong. If we find it clear and free from fault, 
we generally find the yarn silk-like, the Flax being oily and 
kindly, as it is termed. Such is easily hackled, and as a 
consequence the shorts bring with them all the particles that 
remain on a more husky fibre ; for example, I will state what 
I know of this, from years of experience. I never found yarns 
above 60 lea from any but white French Flax, that would 
make prime strong warp ; and I never found: # quite clear, and 
free from the neap I mentioned. It is always, when strong, 
difficult to hackle or clean out, although it appears oily. The 
warp yarn undergoes all the working of the machinery, 
and stress of weaving and dressing, in which operation the 
weaver can clear off stubs or defects in the yarns, when 
stretched out by the yarn beam of the loom being drawn back, 
while the weft yam only bears the swing of the shuttle from 
one end of the slays to the other, — say one and a half yard. 
It is driven into its place in the warp without any stress, 
therefore strength in the weft is not such a matter of conse- 
quence. To be clean, level, and round, is what I call perfection. 
The same is required in warp yarns ; but it is difficult to make 
it so, and have what is of more importance, strength in the 
thread. 

E 



66 



DICKSON ON THE 



A COKKECT SCALE SHOWING THE FIRST 
COST OF FLAX. 

WITH THE DESCRIPTION AND NUMBERS THAT EACH QUALITY IS 
CALCULATED TO BE SPUN TO BY FLAX SPINNERS 
IN FACTORIES. 

In order that the reader may have a correct idea of the 
value of the article after being handled by him and ready for 
market, I shall here give a calculation of it, according as the 
fibre is suited for spinning into the different numbers, from the 
coarser to the finer sorts, or numbers suited to be manufacured 
into coarse and fine qualities of linen and cambric ; and those 
who take the trouble to examine the following table will see 
that the spinners are much better paid for the yarns spun from 
the finer qualities than those of the coarse. Thus they must 
feel satisfied that their attention, if they wish to cultivate Flax, 
should be directed (like the French and Belgians) to the 
growing of the finer fibre; and as I always found that 
when I had a fine quality of Flax, I had the greater weight per 
acre, because of its having been a close, thick crop, it is but 
proper to notice that where a crop of Flax turns out light on 
the ground^ it will be of coarse quality, and along with that, the 
weight per acre will be frequently not more than one half of 
what I know to have been gotten when the crop turned out 
fine ; therefore, as there is a wide difference between the 
value of coarse and fine quality of Flax, the prices running 
from £40 to £170 per ton, it is evident that there is no article 
produced that offers such advantages to the farmer. 



SPINNING OF FLAX. 



67 



i co © o> so so 



e3 ej f; -j . 



£ .¥3 



.■BOOfflCOCO jffl(00 «00«5«0(OOlOSO 



iN* (OOO^iflWlfl ifllfllfliOlflifllOO !>• CO OS 



p & o - c 
C8 o fe P V 



JCi O O CO O OCOO.SOOOOOOOt^ 



tot- i>- 1» tc a to Qioiooifj»oioioio 

125 



a to o n oo o> o eo 



,S-'o » o o n 5s to to totoofjcotoffio 

^ cc O OS OJ CO CO t- *^ J>. NNCO00CO00 00OS 



CO OS SO O OS o o 
CS OS © rH CM Tt< «5 



t>. co co o »o *o io ifl i-i io «5 o win w o m o so io o 



Cost of spin- 
ning with 
interest on 
cost of 

machinery. 


's'nishho ©©© oooooohm coeococo^*^eoco© 

oJCM CM CM Ol CM CM CM CM CMCMCMCMCMGMCMCN GMGMCMCMCMCNCNCMCO 


Price of Plax 
in one bun- 
dle Yarns. 


H!SiHeiHi«t«f# h1« h|« h-*Hnc<5|t}< He< h« 
-000-<#00 OSSOifl ^CO^SO^O-^fO NOOOhnOmOIM 

^ o t*< co cococo cocoeocococococo cococoeoco-'teo'O^ 


=4-1 © 

O S O u 

S 55 5 S 


. H«r-WHe» Hei esfai H*M-* mhHHNHeM^f H« ceHfwteMeiHstHMM'* 
i O ffi N O O O tJi tH COCOeOCOCMCNCMGM INNhhi-ihhhh 
H r— 1 


The num- 
bers that 
Flax from 
£40 to £170 
per ton can 
be spun to. 


>2cm »o © o © m © m oinowowoia ©©o©©oooo 
2iw oi co co ^t 1 -tfoo oonncooooo Oi— i im n ^ a o n co 


Price per lb.| 

when 
dressed and 

ready for 
spinning. 


H« eo|<* He* He»H^ «wH<fH^ ml^H'* He* H« H«hhii-W H« 
•SCO CD t> t>. 00 OSOSO OiHriCMNCQijiCO !>-OSi-(C0iO©CM©CM 


Produca 
from one 
stone of 
14lbs. when 
dressed. 


^ o ~ ~ ~ ^ £££ ~ »as ~ ^ £ ~co •» jvt>. ? ~co ~o ? 


f Flax per ton calcu- 
price per stone of 14 
Ihe rough undressed 
s sold by farmers. 


g-C© SO © SO © SO © SO ©SC©SOOSO©SO ©©©o©©©©© 

<a 

SiolOiotOtON t>» CO CO OSOSOOi— ii— I CM CM C0tJ<»OsO*^C0i3S©i— 1 

S3 
O 



w « fi 

(Sill 



~sd <~! 3! 00 ^ 5:2 O ^ CO CMCOOr^COCMCO© -<*<NOCOCOTt<cNO© 

Tjt in m so co co NNcecocomoo o— I'McNco^mot^ 



68 



DICKSON ON THE 



In calculating the number of pounds of dressed or hackled 
Flax required to make one bundle of line or Flax yarns, from 
No. 22 lea up to 180 lea, it must be observed that 1 show but 
from ten pounds to five pounds of clear or dressed Flax from 
fourteen pounds of rough undressed Flax ; and that as Flax 
is required to spin fine, it undergoes the process of being 
drawn oftener over the finer hackles, and as a consequence, the 
more tow and less Flax becomes produced. I have, therefore, 
thought proper to notice the drawings or tow, as it is called. 

By the late improvements in machinery this tow can be 
spun into yarns nearly as fine in quality as the Flax, and the 
waste is now very trifling. Tow being the shorts from the 
Flax fibre, it is more like (in nature) Cotton than Flax, and 
therefore the yarn from it, although it can be spun level and 
round, is not strong. It is only adapted for weft or drills, 
diapers, coarse and light cheap linens , however, it can be spun 
to great perfection, and although the prices of linen yarns are 
much below the prices in 1834, the spinner's profits are not so 
much reduced as might at first sight appear, from their being 
able, by improvements in machinery, to take more yarn from 
the tow than it was possible for them to do ten years ago, and 
therefore they have less loss by waste from the original weight 
of the rough material. 

I look upon these improvements in machinery and reduc- 
tion in prices as a permanent benefit to Flax-spinners, as well 
as to those who manufacture and wear our linen goods, inas- 
much as the prices are now so low that the article competes 
with cotton, and as a consequence, our home consumption 
increases as well as our exportation, which continues to 
improve. 

The quantity of Flax required in the spinning of one 
bundle of yarns containing sixteen hanks and eight cuts, 
appears in the table, and as the amount I have placed opposite * 
each quality will be found to be the prices of the day, the 



SPINNING OF FLAX. 



69 



calculating farmer will see how it is that fine shirting linens 
have been so exhorbitant in price up to 1834, when Flax 
culture began to be spread over the northern province of Ire- 
land, and when our English spinners were entirely depending 
on the French, Belgian, Dutch, and Russia?! farmers for the 
raw material, and therefore paying prices for the article that 
our farmers would scarcely credit. I have seen Flax in 1834 
at £150, £160, and up to £180 per ton, and I have paid 18s. 
per bundle of sixteen hanks and eight cuts, for the yarns spun 

from ONE POUND AND A QUAKTER OF SUCH FLAX. Now, as 

from one pound and a quarter of that Flax which cost 3s, lid., 
the spinner could produce his bundle of yarns and obtain 18s., 
should not our farmers be thankful to be made aware of the 
advantage they may derive in producing from their farms so 
valuable an article ? Certainly the prices of yarn are now 
much reduced by spinners, and Flax has come clown in price ; 
but I maintain that fine Flax will always command a ready 
sale and a good price. 

Having now placed before my readers facts sufficient to 
convince them that they are certain to be paid for any extra 
care and attention bestowed on the cultivation of this plant, I 
shall conclude this part of my observations by giving parti- 
culars of the present expenses of manufacturing the article 
(when spun) into linen shirtings, linen-drills, etc., — articles 
that our labouring population should wear in 'preference to 
cotton, as linen- drill (formerly called Eussian duck") makes ex- 
cellent trouser stuff and working jackets, which are very cheap 
and will wear for a considerable time, and no dress can be 
better adapted for spring, summer, and harvest wear. 

I shall first give the description and quantity of yarns used 
for making linen-drills, with the expenses of manufacturing ; 
for example 



70 DICKSON ON THE 



YARNS REQUIRED TO MAKE A DRILL WEB. 



Quality er 
Beer. 


Number of 
Hanks. 


Number 
of Warp. 


Number 
of Wett. 


Cost of manufacturing a linen drill, con- 
taining 84 to 85 yams. 


40 


42 
40 


25 


22 


£ s. d. 

4| per hank 15 9 

4| do 15 10 

Boiling ... ... 19 

Warping and Winding 12 
Weaving .,. ... 6 6 




82 






£2 1 


70 


72 
51 


40 


30 


82 hanks will make 84 to 85 yards of 

strong twilled linen drill at 5|d. 
A\ per hank ... ... 17 

4i do 18 Of 

Boiling 2 1\ 

Warping and Winding 17 
Weaving 9 6 




123 






£2 18 9 


100 


102 
60 


70 


60 


123 hanks will make 84 to 85 yards of 
strong twilled linen drill at 8^d. 

5 per hank 2 2 6 

3| do 18 9 

Boiling 3 5 

Warping and Winding 2 1 
Weaving 14 




162 






£4 9 










162 hanks will make 84 to 85 yards of 
strong drill ll^d. cost. 



Although. I select 40, 70, and 100 beer drill, in order to 
show the first cost of this very USEFUL article of oar 
manufacture,, I beg to say that the degrees or qualities rise by 
fives, as follow, and the prices are fixed as under. 



Beer 


40. 


45. 


50. 


55. 


60. 


65. 


70. 


75. 


80. 85. 


Price 


5|d. 


6d. 


6^d. 


7d. 


7^d. 


8d. 


8|d. 


9d. 


9±d. lOd. 


Beer 


90. 


95. 


100. 


105. 


110. 


115. 


120. 






Price 


10±d. 


lid. 


ll^d. 


12|d. 


13d. 


13|d. 


14id. 







Thus it appears, according to the prices of yarns and the 
expense of weaving, that a good coarse linen drill can be made 
at 5|d. per yard, and middle quality at 8jd. per yard, and 
very fine at 14Jd. per yard ; 2 J yards will make a labouring 
man a pair of trowsers, and 4 \ yards will make him a blouse or 



MANUFACTURE OF LINEN DRILL. 



71 



coat ; and thus he can have the materials for making those 
necessary articles of clothing from home production : coat, 
middle quality, for 3s. Id., and trowsers Is. 5d., total 4s. 6d. 
And as health is the only capital that the farm-labourer has to 
depend upon, a couple of suits of such clothing would enable 
him TO be ALWAYS clean, and as a consequence, in better 
health and more able to do his work. 

As it is my wish to submit matter likely to interest and 
benefit the farmers and agricultural labourers, I shall here add 
a rule for calculating and counting A linen drill, which I 
DEFY being found in error , as the same has been my guide FOR 
MANY years, when I had from 1,500 to 2,000 weavers 
employed in the manufacture of this article ; and as merchants 
and shippers are often deceived in the purchase of this article 
from parties calling and selling them for beers, or sets of a 
much 'finer quality than they will count, I beg to say that with 
a proper linen glass and a reference to the following table, they 
cannot be taken advantage of when they count the ivarp and 
weft, 

calculation to make a linen-drill web of 



84 OR 85 YARDS. 





Warp. 


Weft. 


Warp 




Beer. 










Weft 
should 










should 




Hanks. 


Number. 


Hanks. 


Number. 


count. 


count. 










1 




Shots. 


40 


42 


25 


40 


j 22 


12 


10 


45 


47 


28 


42 


25 


13 


11 


50 


52 


30 


44 


25 


14 


12 


55 


57 


30 


46 


28 


15 


12f 


60 


62 


35 


48 


28 


16 


13 


65 


67 


35 


49 


28 


17 


13| 


70 


72 


40 


51 


30 


18 


14 


75 


75 


45 


52 


35 


19 


14^ 


80 


82 


50 


54 


40 


20 


15 


85 


87 


55 


56 


45 


22 


15! 


90 


92 


60 


58 


50 


24 


16 


95 


97 


65 


60 


55 


25 


16! 
17 


100 


102 


70 


62 


60 


26 


105 


107 


75 


64 


65 


27 


17! 


110 


112 


80 


67 


70 


28 


18 


115 


117 


85 


70 


75 


29 


18! 


120 


122 


90 


76 


80 I 


30 


19 



72 



DICKSON ON THE 



METHOD OF COUNTING WARP AND WEFT 
IN A LINEN DRILL WEB. 

Example. — As the warp appears on the right side of a 
drill-web, take a piece, say 100 beer, which observe in the 
above table is made from 102 hanks of 70 lea warp, and 62 
hanks and 60 lea weft; place your counting glass on the 
twill or face of the web, and you should be able to count 
twenty-six threads in paws, one partially lapped over the 
other. If you cannot make out twenty-six threads under a 
correct linen glass it is not 100 beer, and as a consequence it 
has not 102 hanks of warp, and must be of less value than 
100 beer. In counting the weft you turn the piece and place 
your glass on the back, or what is termed the wrong side, and 
if it has been wefted with 60 lea yarns, and sixty-two hanks 
have been driven on the warp, the twill on the face will he short 
and close, the web thick, and you should be able to count under 
the glass seventeen shots of weft, if less the weaver must not 
have driven on sixty-two hanks. 

Having stated the number of yarns necessary to make outer 
clothing from linen-drill suited to wear in hot climates, or in 
warm weather at home, I shall conclude my observations on 
this part of the subject by giving the exact expenses attending 
the manufacture of a still more important article than that 
mentioned, inasmuch as we have other articles of outside 
dress at a moderate price, which we might use [instead of an 
article made from Flax ; however, as we all know the 
comforts of a good clean linen shirt, I shall give par- 
ticulars as to the proper method of getting up a fifty-two 
yards piece of linen, and as the majority of the people 
who wear linen shirts are not likely to purchase yard-wide 
linen for that purpose below 12§d. per yard (and for that 
price they should have what we call fourteen hundred, marked 



MANUFACTURE OF FLAX AND LINEN. 73 

and known by 14° °, allowing twopence per yard for bleaching) 
1 beg of the reader to observe the price of the Flax from which 
the yarns require to be spun, and from which those goods 
are made ; and let him not forget that in growing Flax that 
will bring £72 per ton, the farmer has not only a clear profit 
of £21 per acre, but he prevents millions of gold, which 
would give extensive employment to our agricultural population, 
from being annually exported to the continent ; and as there is 
nothing to prevent the inhabitants in every rural district or 
county in England and Ireland from growing and manu- 
facturing the linen articles required for family uses, just as the 
small farming population in the North of Ireland do, and 
which has added much to their prosperity and comfort, I do 
hope that, if the facts herein explained (showing what 
additional employment the cultivation of Flax will give to the 
agricultural classes) will not stir up a feeling in the minds of 
the farmers of Britain to try experiments that the temptations 
of extra profit must induce them to bestir themselves ; more- 
over it appears to me that the manufacturers have carried out 
their wishes for open ports and a free trade in corn, farmers 
should not only he up and doing, but glad of being made 
aware that they can cultivate an article sufficient to meet the 
payment of the chief demand — the Kent — regardless of 

CORN-LAWS OR PROTECTING-DTJTLES. 

As the buyers of shirting, or what is called 4-4ths linen, 
cannot be aware of the manufacturer's terms for the various 
qualities called sets, 1 shall first give the present list of prices 
in the white, or bleached state. 



Quality 4-4ths 


900 


1Q oo 


II 00 


12 00 


13 oo 


14 oo 


15 oo 


16 03 


Price 


8id. 


lOd. 


lOfd. 


ll^d. 


12±d. 


12fd. 


13jd. 


14id. 


Quality 4-4 ths 


17°° 


lg oo 


19°° 


20°° 


21°° 


22°° 


23°° 


2400 


Price 


I5jd. 


16id. 


18d. 


20 Jd. 


22d. 


24d. 


26d. 


32d. 



The above being the price in the bleached state, in 1845, in 



74 



DICKSON ON THE 



order that persons, unacquainted with the first cost of the 
article, may form a correct idea of the value hereafter, I shall 
give the expense attending the manufacture of a few sets in the 
brown state. The prices now, in 1858, I understand are 
down 3d. per yard, and therefore linen is now very near as 
cheap as cotton, although a linen shirt will outwear two cotton 
shirts. 



CALCULATION OF YAENS REQUIRED TO MAKE A STRONG 
LINEN WEB EIFTY-TWO YARDS LONG. 



Quality 
or set 


Quantity 
of Hanks. 


Number 
of Warp. 


Number 
of Weft. 


Price of Yarns, Weaving, etc. 


900 


30 
32 


22 


30 


£ s. d. 

At 4id\ per hank ... 11 4£ 
4|d. do. ... 12 li 

Boiling 13 

Warping and Winding 10£ 
Weaving 7 




62 






£1 12 7i 










62 hanks will make 52 yards linen, 
at 7£d. per yard. 


14°° 


46f 
48 


40 


60 


At 4±d. per hank ... 17 6 
3fd. do. ... 15 

Boiling 1 11| 

Warping and Winding 12^ 
Weaving 11 




94} 






£2 6 8 










94f hanks will make 52 yards linen, 
at lOfd. per yard. 


20°° 


66| 
68 


70 


95 


At 5£d. per hank ... 1 10 3 
4±d. do. ... 14 1 

Boiling 2 9 

Warping and Winding 1 10 
Weaving ... ... 1 




134f 






£3 18 11 










134§ hanks will make 52 yards linen, 
at 6|d. per yard. 



As the above only shews the numbers required to make three 
sets, or descriptions of 4-4 ths shirtings, I shall now add the 
scale, by which all kinds, from 9 00 to 28 00 , can be made. 



MANUFACTURE OF LINEN. 



75 



YARNS 

CALCULATED TO MAKE A FIFTY-TWO YARD PIECE OF 
STRONG FOUR-FOURTHS LINEN. 



Quality 
or Set. 


Hanks. 


Warp 
No. 


Hanks. 


Weft 1 
No. i 


goo 


30 


22 


32 


30 j 


10°° 


30 


25 


34 


35 S 


11°° 


32£ 


28 


38 


40 | 


12 oo 


36j 


30 


42 


45 


13°° 


40 


35 


45 


50 


14°° 


43^ 


40 


48 


55 


15°° 


46£ 


45 


52 


60 


16°° 


50 


50 


55 


65 


17 M 


531 


55 


58 


70 


18°° 


60 


60 


62 


75 


19°° 


63J 


65 


65 


80 


20°° 


66£ 


70 


68 


85 


21°° 


70 


75 


72 


90 | 


22°° 


73i 


80 


75 


100 | 


23°° 


76i 


90 


78 


110 1 


24°° 


80 


100 


82 


120 i 


25°° 


831 


110 


85 


130 ! 


26°° 


86J 


120 


88 


150 


27°° 


90 


140 


92 


170 


28°° 




180 


96 


180 



The same numbers will make 7-8th linens ; but the 
calculation as to the quantity required is less because of the 
breadth. 



Quality 
or set. 



10°° 
11°° 

l 2 oo 

13°° 
14°° 
15°° 
16°° 
17°° 
18°° 
19°° 
20 3 ° 

2i°° 

22°° 



Hanks. 



24 

26| 

291 

32 

35| 

371 

40 

42i 

451 

48 

50| 

531 

56 

58^ 



Warp 
No. 



22 
25 
28 
30 
35 
40 
45 
50 
55 
60 
65 
70 
75 
80 



Hanks. 



26 
28 
31 
34 
37 
49 
42 
44 
47 
50 
52 
55 
58 
60 



Weft 
No. 

30 
35 
40 
50 
55 
60 
65 
70 
75 
80 
85 
90 
95 
100 



76 



DICKSON ON THE 



Another description of linen called three-fourths wide is 

used for different purposes, and generally finished for what 

are termed brown and black-beetled goods, is made by the 

following scale. 

YARNS CALCULATED TO MAKE FHTTY-TWO YABDS 
OF THREE-FOURTHS WIDE LINEN. 



Quality 
or set. 


Hanks. 


Number 
of "Warp. 


Hanks. 


Number 
of Weft. 


4.00 


7 


4 


9 


8 


5°° 


11 


8 


13 


12 


6°° 


14 


12 


16 


18 


>Joo 


16 


14 


19 


22 




181 


18 


22 


25 


900 


21 


22 


25 


30 


10°° 


221 


25 


26 


35 


11 00 


25 


28 


29 


40 


12 oo 


28 


30 


32 


45 


13°° 


32 


35 


34 


50 


14°° 


321 


40 


36 


55 



Four-fourths light linens made for exportation. These 
goods are made from a much finer description of yarns. 

YARNS CALCULATED TO MAKE FDJTY-TWO YARDS 
OF FOUR-FOURTHS LIGHT LINEN. 



Quality 
or set. 


Hanks. 


Number 
of Warp. 


Hanks. 


Number 
of Weft. 


300 


27 


30 


29 


40 


900 


30 


35 


32 


45 


10°° 


33 


40 


35 


50 


n°° 


361 


45 


38 


55 


12 oo 


40 


50 


42 


60 


13 oo 


431 


55 


45 


65 


14 oo 


46i 


60 


48 


70 


15°° 


50 


65 


52 


75 


16°° 


531 


70 


55 


80 


17°° 


56± 


75 


58 


85 


18°° 


60 


80 


62 


90 


19°° 


63J 


85 


65 


95 


20°° 


66i 


90 


68 


105 


2100 


70 


100 


72 


120 


22°° 


73J 


110 


75 


140 


23 03 




120 


78 


160 


2400' 


80 


140 


82 


180 


25°° 


83 


160 


85 


200 



MANUFACTURE OE LINEN. 



77 



As merchants and shippers can judge of the value of linens 
offered them by bleachers only by a comparison of the prices 
and quality of goods placed before them, it may be interesting 
and useful to them to know the exact expenses incurred in the 
manufacture of the article, and as the prices of light four- 
fourths export linens are now in the bleached state as follows : 

Set or Quality 8 3 ° 9 30 10°° 11°° 12°° 13°° 14 00 15 00 16 03 

Price /8 /8i /9 /9| /10 /10f 1/ 1/f 

Set or Quality 17°° 18°° 19°° 20°° 21°° 22°° 23°° 24°° 25 00 

Price 1/2 l/3± 1/6 1/8| 2/2 2/7 2/11 3/2 4/0 

I shall now add to this the first cost prices, in the brown 
state, with the description as to quantity and numbers used in 
making such goods. 



78 



DICKSON ON THE 



YAKNS REQUIRED TO MAKE A FIFTY-TWO YARDS 
PIECE OE LIGHT LINEN GOODS. 



Quality 
or Set. 



Quantity 
of Hanks. 



I4 J 



20 : ' 



Number 
of Warp. 



56 



46^ 
48 



94^ 



66^ 
68 



134i 



83 
85 



168 



30 



60 



90 



160 



Number 
of Weft. 



40 



70 



105 



200 



Prices of Yams, Wearing, etc. 



At 4|d. per hank 

3f do 

Boiling 

Warping and Winding 
Weaving 

56 hanks will make 52 
yards cost 6d. per yard. 



s. d. 
9 6£ 



1 5 5i 



At 4d. per hank 

2fd. do 

Boiling 

W arping and Winding 
Weaving 

94 £ hanks will make 52 
yards cost 9£d. per yard. 



15 6 
15 
1 11 
12 
7 



2 7 



At 6d. per yard 1 13 3 

5^d. do 15 6 

Boiling 2 9 

Warping and Winding 2 2 

Weaving 18 



1 34i hks. will make 52 yds. ) 4 
cost Is. 6Jd. per yard. ) 



1 8 



At lid. per hank 

12d. do 

Boiling 

Warping and Winding 
Weaving 

1 68 hks. will make 52 yds. 
cost 3s. lOJd. per yard. 



3 16 

4 5 
3 

2 

1 15 



10 1 11 



The next description of light linen goods that are made is 
three-fourths wide lawns, which are made from mill-spun 
yarns in the warp, and their wefts are from hand-spun yarns, 
which are spun in Prussia and other parts of Germany. It is 
a more wiry sort of yarn than that spun by machinery ; and 
goods made from it are not so like cotton nor so SOFT, as those 
made from mill-spun yarns in warp and weft 



MANUFACTURE OF LINEN. 



79 



Bleacher's prices for lawns are, viz. — 

Set 12°° 13°° 14°° 15°° 



16- 



17< 



18 : 



Price 
Set .. 



19 oc 



n 

20 3 ° 



/ll 

2P : 



1/0 

22 oc 



1/1* 

23°° 



1/3 

240c 



1/5 



Price ... 1/8 2/0| 2/5 2/6 2/9 3/0 

The first cost price for three-fourths lawns in the brown 

state, will be seen by expenses of manufacturing as under. 

YAENS REQUIRED TO MAKE THREE-FOURTHS WIDE 
LAWNS— FIFTY-TWO YARDS. 



Quality 
or Set. 


Quantity 
ot Hanks 


Number 
of Warp. 


Number 
of Weft. 


Germ. 

terms, 
Loth. 


12°° 


28 
30 


60 


75 


2| 




58 








16°° 




100 


115 

i ■ Tti i 


If 




77J 








20 33 


46^ 
49 


150 


180 


7 

8 




95J 









Price of Yarns, weaving, etc. 



£ s. d 

d. per hank 10 6 

d. do 4 

Boiling 12 

Warping and Winding 10 
Weaving 6 



58 hks, make 52 yds. 
cost 6J per yard. 



6d. per hank 
4fd. do. ... 
Warping and 
Boiling 
Weaving ... 



10 8 
15 10 
12 
1 
12 



77J hks . will make 52 ) g 
yds. cost 1 ljd. per yd. \ 



9 3 



QM. per hank 116 9 

9d. do 1 16 9 

Boiling 2 

Warping and Winding 13 
Weaving 1 



95 \ hks. make 52 yds. ) 4 lg 
at Is. lOfd. per yard. ) 



Linens and lawns are counted on the one side, warp and 
weft. For example, a 20 00 should (with forty-nine hanks of 
weft) count in warp twenty threads, and in weft twenty, and 
in some places twenty-one sJiots under a linen glass. 

The above being an example of the cost of making three- 
fourths wide lawns, I shall here add the scale for making, 
which will be found useful and correct. 



80 



DICKSON ON THE 



YARNS 

CALCULATED TO MAKE THREE-FOURTHS WIDE LAWNS, 
FIFTY-TWO YARDS LONG. 



Quality 
or 
Set. 


Hanks. 


Number 

of 
Warp. 


Hanks. 


Number 
of 
Weft. 


German 
Terms for 
Yarns. 


12°° 


28 


60 


30 


75 


H 


13°° 


301 


70 


33 


85 




14°° 


32§ 


80 


35 


95 


H 


15 oo 


35 


90 


38 


105 




16°° 


37i 


100 


40 


115 


If 


17 oo 


39| 


110 


42 


120 


If 


18°° 


42 


130 


44 


140 


H 


19°° 


44J 


130 


47 


160 


i 


20°° 


46^ 


150 


49 


180 


1 


21°° 


49 


180 


52 


200 


3. 
4 


22°° 


«4 


200 


54 


240 


§ 



Handkerchiefs are made similar to lawns from mill-spun 
warp, and hand-spun weft yarns, but as a finer description of 
yarns is used of the same reed, I think proper to add here the 
scale for making them also. 

YARNS 

CALCULATED AND REQUIRED TO MAKE HANDKERCHIEFS, 
10 DOZENS EACH PRICE, 21 INCH. 



Quality 




Number 




Number 


German 


or 


Hanks. 


of 


Hanks. 


of 


Terms for 


Set. 




Warp. 




Weft. 


J Yarns. 


12°° 


30 


70 


32 


80 




13°° 


32A 


80 


34 


95 


n 


14°° 


35 


90 


37 


105 


2 


15°° 


37£ 


100 


39 


115 


If 


16'° 


40 


115 


42 


120 


if 


17°° 


42i 


130 


44 


140 


18°° x 


45 


140 


47 


150 


H 


19°° 


47£ 


150 


59 


160 


l 


20°° 


50 


160 


52 


180 


I 


21°° 


521 


170 


54 


200 


i 


22°° 


55 


180 


57 


240 


ff 



MANUFACTURE OF LINEN DRILL. 



81 



The present prices of handkerchiefs are (as sold by the 
dozen in the white state) as follows : — 

12™ 13™ 14™ 15™ 16™ 17™ 18™ 19™ 20™ 21™ 22™ 
5/0 5/6 6/9 7/6 8/6 10/6 12/6 14/6 16/6 20/0 22/0 

Having s^iven the scale for making handkerchiefs, I s hall 
add an example, in order to show the manufacturing price, or 
as it is called, the price in the brown state. 

YARNS. 

REQUIRED TO MAKE A TEN DOZEN PIECE OF HANDKER- 
CHIEFS, TWENTY-ONE INCHES. 



Quality 
or Set. 



14° 



18° 



22^ 



Quantity 
oi Hanks 



Number Number 
of Warp, of Weft. 



92 



112 



90 



140 



180 



105 



150 



240 



Germ. 

terms, 
Loth. 



Prices of Yarns, weaving, etc. 



£ p. d 

6d. per bank 17 6 

7'id. do 13 1 

Boiling 1 6 

Warping and Winding 1 

Weaving 014 



72 hks. make 10 doz. 
at 5s. 8i loer doz. 



2 17 1 



9d. per bank 1 13 9 

Is. Id. do 2 10 11 

Boiling 1 11 

Warping and Winding 13 

Weaving 1 5 



92 hks. make 10 doz. ) „ , , n 
j > o 12 10 

at 1 Is. 3d. per doz. \ 



Is. 3d. per hank ... 3 8 9 

Is. 5d. do 4 9 

Boiling 2 4 

Warping and Winding 18 

Weaving 2 8 



112 hks. make 10 doz. 
at 20s. l^d. per doz. 



10 1 



As this finishes all the calculations that I consider to be 
required, in order to make the different articles of linen 
manufacture which our markets are supplied with, with the 
exception of sheeting and damask goods, I shall conclude my 
observations, on this part of the subject, by referring parties 



82 



DICKSON ON THE 



wishing to make strong sheeting, to the scale for making 
strong four-fourths linen, which will direct them as to the 
method of making sheeting, by calculating the difference in 
the breadth they require. 

The manufacture of flowered or figured goods, such as 
damask, diaper damask, new and old diaper, varies so much, 
that I shall not attempt to lay down rules for the making of 
them, it being a branch I have had very little experience in ; 
therefore, I shall conclude my remarks on the subject of linen 
manufacture, by adding the present prices of those articles in 
the Irish markets on Thursday, the 21st of August, 1845. 

In the Lurgan Market — 

8^ 10 6 10 

4 4; 44 

Damask, Diaper Damask, . — 

2/1 3/0 per yard. 1/54 2/0 per yard. 

6»- _7 8 10 

4 4 4 

Diaper, ■ ■ 

19 /9| 1/1J 1/6 per yard. 

Having always used for warp and weft the very best descrip- 
tion of yarns, during the many years I manufactured linen 
goods, I found the yarns described below to answer. The 
first quality is from 30 to 60, being spun from the very best 
sort of Flax, but is too high in price for anything but superior 
drill; but I found we require yarns from 60 to 160 for the best 
sorts of four-fourths linens ; the second quality from 30 to 70 
lea, makes a prime article of linen warp, and from 70 to 120 
makes the very best description of light linen warp. 
The third quality is calculated for warp for a second 
description of strong linens, up to three pound or 70 
lea; and from that to one-and-a-quarter, or 160 lea for weft. 
The fourth quality will make lawn warp from 55 up to 120 
lea, and strong drill from 55 down to 30 lea, drill warp. The 
tows from 16 to 35 lea will warp coarse goods: and from 35 



MANUFACTURE OF LINEN DRILL. 



83 



lea to 100 lea they will weft light linens ; and for diaper or 
damask, weft tow-yarns answer as well as Flax, but prime 
damask should be all Flax-yarns. 

PRICES 

OF THE BEST DESCRIPTION OF LINE AND TOW YARNS, 
SEPTEMBER 4th, 1845. 



Line Yarns. 



Size of 
each 

No. in 
Lea 

per lb. 



30 

35 

40 

45^j 

50 ' 

55 

60 

65 

70 

75 

80 J 

90 
100 
110 
120 
130 
140 
150 
160 
170 
180 
190 
200 



No. 1. 



Price 
per 
bundle 



•s. d. 



8 6 

9 3 
9 9 

10 6 

11 6 

12 9 

14 

15 



No. 2. 



Price per 
bundle. 



s. d. 



8 6 
8 3 
7 9 



7 6 



Line Yarns. 



No, 3 quality 




Price 


Size. 


per 




bundle 



2*1 
2 



7 
6 6 



6 3 
6 9 



Irish Flax 


Tow Yarns. 


Yarns. 








No. 4 quality. 




XT 

iNlO. 1. 


No. 2. 




Price 


Size. 


Price 


Price 


Size. 


per 




per 


per 




bundle 




bundle 


bundle 




s. d. 




s. d. 


s. d. 






14 


9 3 




30 


7 3 


16 


8 6 




35 


7 


18 


8 3 


7 6 


40 


6 6 


20 


8 


7 3 


45 


6 3 


22 


7 9 


7 O 


50 


5 9 


25 




6 9 


i 55^ 






30 


7 "6 


6 6 


! 60 






35 


7 3 


6 3 


65 






40 


7 




! ™ 


> 


5 6 


45 


6 6 




! 75 






50 


6 3 


5"e 


80 






60 


6 




: ss 






70} 






j 90 


5 9 


80 ( 


5 6 




95 


6 


90 [ 






100 


6 3 


100 J 






110 


6 9 


110 






120 

! 


7 3 


120 


__ _ 





Prices of Flax and tow-yarns spun from Irish Flax, and 
calculated to make a prime article in linen goods. The 
numbers from 40 lea to 75 are well adapted for light linen or 
lawn warp, and the finer numbers are the best in the market 
for strong linen weft ; the tow-yarns are calculated for drills 
and light linen weft. 



84 



DICKSON ON THE 



PRICES 

OF ELAX AND TOW- YARNS, SEPTEMBER 4th, 1845. 



El ax Yarns. 


Tow 
Yarns 


Elax Yarns. 


Tow 
Yarns. 


Size of each No. in 
Leas per lb. 


Superior Quality 
Strong Drill W. 


j 1st Quality Strong 
Linen Warp. 


I.S a 
■5*3 
^3 

PI 
I* 


Drill and Linen 
Weft. 


Size of each No. in 
Leas per lb. 


Superior Quality 
Strong Drill W. 


1st Quality Strong 
Linen Warp. 


2nd Quality Light 
Warp and Linen 
Weft. 


Drill and Linen 
Weft. 








s, a. 


s. d. 








s. d. 




16 








7 


95 






5 6 




18 








6 9 


100 






5- 7i 




20 








6 4 


105 






5 10i 




22 








6 3 


110 






6 1* 




25 








6 


115 






6 H 




30 








5 9 


120 






6 n 




36 








5 6 


125 










40 








5 3 


130 






7 3 




45 






Warp. 




135 










50 






5 6 




140 






8 6 




55 






>> 


1 


145 










60 








1 


150 






9 6 




65 










160 




|10 6 




70 








>5 


180 






13 




75 






Weft. 














80 





















85 
90 






)> 
«> 















Yarn is made rap in bunches of three or six bundles. The 

above prices are by the English bundle of 60,000 yards. 

1| Yard Reel 

100 Threads ... 1 Lea 150 Yards. 

12 Leas 1 Half-hank 1,800 

100 Half-hanks 3 English bundles, 180,000 „ 
2\ Yard Reel 

120 Threads ... 1 Lea 300 Yards. 

12 Leas 1 Hank 3,600 „ 

16f Hanks ... 1 English bundle, 60,000 

50 Hanks ... 3 Bundles 180,000 „ 



PROFITS OF FLAX CULTIVATION. 



85 



LETTER I. 

A PROOF FROM MR. SPROULE's ESSAY OX FLAX, THAT A NET PROFIT 
OF FROM £20 TO £30 PER ACRE CAX BE MADE BY CULTIVATING 

THE PLANT. 

Not having heard from Air, Sproule, I answered his letter 
in the Gardener s Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, on the 
15th of March. On learning from some cjentlemen, friends 
of mine in the country, that he had published an Essay on 
Flax Cultivation, for which he obtained a medal from the 
Royal Dublin Society, I had the curiosity to purchase a copy, 
and having perused it with much care, I considered myself called 
upon to notice two paragraphs in his work, as it appears to me 
his attempt to contradict my letter was inconsistent, if not 
unfair, when he had at the same moment a work on the 
subject for sale in the market, which asserts that £30 per acre, 
clear profit, can be obtained from Flax-growing, although he 
condemned my statement of £20 per acre profit as being 
erroneous; however, as it is truly said, that whatever promotes 
discussion is always advantageous to the cause of truth, I 
have thought proper to bring before the readers of the Gar- 
deners Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, Air. Sproule's ideas 
on Flax culture in 1844, when writing a pamphlet for sale ; 
and his ideas in 1845, when he found that British farmers 
were likely to be informed by me, through the public press, of 
the advantages to be gained by the growth of the plant. 

As Mr. Sproule styles himself editor of the Irish Farmer s 
Journal, he has very likely had a better opportunity than most 
people (as his Essay will prove) of collecting from the reports 
of the Irish Linen Board, the Belfast Flax Improvement 
Society, and Sham's Flemish Husbandry, matter sufficient 
to form an interesting work on the subject. However, 
what I have to submit for perusal is the result of practical 



86 



DICKSON ON THE 



experience and personal observation, and therefore I beg to 
refer the reader to the following : — 

To the Editor of the " Gardeners Chronicle and 
Agricultural Gazette" 
" Sir, — I have occupied a little of my time, and a consi- 
derable space in the columns of your journal, for the purpose 
of making good my arguments in favour of Flax culture ; and 
in hope of doing away with the unfavourable impression of it 
on the minds of the agriculturists, which your remarks, and 
those of Mr. Sproule, on my first letter were calculated to have 
produced, I must call attention to the evidence which the 
latter gentleman has given elsewhere on the subject. Mr. 
Sproule says, in page 7 of his Essay : — ' Another important cir- 
cumstance connected with this subject should not be lost sight 
of by the Flax-growers. The depression so severely felt for 
several years past has chiefly affected the inferior qualities of 
Flax, and when a superior article was brought into the 
market it invariably brought remunerative prices. A large 
proportion of the article brought into the market has, for 
many years, not realised more than from 37 s. to 40s. per cwt., 
which, even in the case of the heaviest crops, could not by any 
means remunerate the farmer ; but it is to be observed that at 
the same time, samples of good quality brought 80s. and 
upwards. Indeed, so great is the difference in price between 
superior and inferior samples of Flax, that even at the present 
time the former will fetch £7 per cwt., while the average 
price does not nearly approach half that sum. Here then, is 
a splendid field for exertion. If the return from the growth of 
Flax can be doubled without devoting another acre to its cul- 
tivation, what an increase would thereby be made to the 
resources of the country. That an approximation to this 
is capable of being effected, no reasonable doubt can now be 
entertained. The seed itself is a most important considera- 



PKOFITS OF EL AX CULTIVATION. 8t 

tion with a foreign grower, though almost entirely neglected 
in this country; so important, in fact, that more is returned by 
the seed alone, under proper management, than the Irish 
farmer obtains for the entire crop.' He next goes on to say : — 
£ That the soil and climate of Ireland answers, the superiority 
of the samples occasionally produced (in cases where a proper 
course of management has been adopted) is a proof. To this 
circumstance it is that we are indebted for the establishment 
of the Flax Improvement Society, in one of the resolutions 
of which we find it expressly declared that ignorance of a 
proper system in the management of the Flax-crop in this 
country is alone the cause of its inferiority to the produce of 
the continent ; that this is now established beyond a doubt, 
and that by the introduction of those right principles that are 
wanting, our farmers may share the benefits at present pos- 
sessed "exclusively by the more skilful cultivators of France, 
Belgium and Holland.' Now it will be recollected, I quoted 
10s. per stone, or £4 per cwt. for good middle quality, and 
Mr. S. condemned me for doing so. What, then, must those 
who read his letter in answer to mine think now, when they 
find that he had then a pamphlet for sale, dated at Dublin, 
1844, which represents, in as strong terms as my letter, the 
advantage of Flax culture, and that there is ' a splendid field 

O 7 L 

for exertion,' because of the difference between superior and 
inferior quality, as the prices range from 37s. to J 40s. per 
cwt. It is evident, that according to his (Mr. S.'s) own 
showing, my quotation of £4 per cwt. was not above the 
middle price ; but he finishes his letter by declaring that mine 
was erroneous, and that £15 per acre profit would be a high 
average, and more than could be realised. I must, therefore, 
quote another paragraph from his Essay. At page 29 he 
says — ' The produce of Flax, even under the best system of 
management, will of course vary according to the soil, season, 
and many other particulars. In those parts of the continent 



88 



DICKSON ON THE 



where its culture is so well understood, it is esteemed the 
golden crop, and regarded as superior to any other on the farm. 
The ordinary produce there is from £20 to £30 per acre, in- 
dependent of the seed, which is worth £5 or £6 more. The 
seed alone, which has hitherto been entirely neglected in this 
country, may, at a low calculation, be assumed to repay the 
cost of the seed sown, with all other charges attending the cul- 
tivation and manufacture of the crop, leaving the fibre altogether 
as net proceeds. Here, then, is a splendid field for exertion, 
and our farmers may take shame to themselves if they rest 
satisfied with their former returns. There need not be the 
slightest fear of the supply exceeding the demand, for how- 
ever great exertion may be made for the extension of the 
culture of Flax, it will be many years before our spinners can 
obtain a sufficient supply in the home market.' I beg of those 
who have read Mr. Sproule's letter in your journal of February, 
to compare it with this statement taken from his own Essay. 
He found great fault with me for what he termed ' the un- 
pardonable omission of the seed.' He valued it then at only 
c £4 10s. per acre,' although in his Essay he values it at £5 
or £6 ; and then he adds, 4 it is sufficient to repay the seed 
sown, with all other expenses attending the crop, leaving the 
fibre AS NET proceeds.' Now, if we believe this latter state- 
ment, that the seed will pay all charges on growing an acre of 
Flax, we must believe it to be worth from £9 to £10, for with rent, 
seed, and other expenses incurred, an acre cannot be produced at 
less expense than £9 or £10; therefore, Mr. Sproule's Essay 
proves that from £20 to £30 per acre net profits can be made, 
although he condemned my statement of £20 per acre profit, 
by representing that £15 was a larger sum, or average, than 
farmers could calculate on obtaining. Having now, as I con- 
ceive, justified my former statements on this subject, I beg to 
call the attention of landlords and agriculturists to the pro- 
ceedings of a monthly meeting of the Belfast Flax Improve- 



PROFIT? OF FLAX CULTIVATION. 



89 



ment Society, particulars of which I have received from their 
secretary, James M'Adam, Esq., a copy of which I observe is 
to be found in your Gazette of Saturday, page 481. It corrobo- 
rates my former statements, when I said that the English and 
Scotch Flax-spinners, who are a very wealthy and influential 
body, are certain to contribute liberally towards the formation 
of a society in this country similar to the Belfast Flax Im- 
provement Society, provided the landlords and farmers can be 
brought to see (as the Irish landlords and farmers do) the 
great benefit derived from Flax culture ; and as the British 
farmers are a calculating class, and far from following the 
example of our railway speculators in their business move- 
ments, it is to be hoped that English and Scotch landowners 
will consult and join with British spinners in promoting a 
society calculated to instruct the farmers of this country in the 
cultivation of the plant, as it cannot be denied that it will be a 
national benefit; and if the matter be taken up by landlords 
and farmers with the same spirit and determination as their 
brethren in Ireland have done, it is evident, from what has 
appeared in your paper last week, they may calculate on the 
undivided support of the Flax-spinners of Britain. 

" I am, Sir, yours faithfully, 

"J. H. DICKSON. 

ei 6, De Beauvoir Square, London, 
30th July, 1845." 

LETTER II. 

ON THE EXPENSES AND PROFITS ON EIGHT ACRES OF WHEAT, 
COMPARED WITH EIGHT OF FLAX. 

To the Editor of ' ' Eddowis J ournal." 
" Sir, — I beg to express my thanks for your prompt attention 
to my request, by inserting in the columns of your journal my 
letters on rotation, cultivation, and management of the Flax- 
plant ; and inasmuch as, by attention to the method described, 



90 



DICKSON ON THE 



any experienced farmer can cultivate the plant to perfection, 
I should like to avail myself of another opportunity, through 
the columns of your paper, to point out the advantages that 
may be gained by landlords and tenants in encouraging the 
growth of Flax in this country. 

" Aware that theoretical observations can never entirely ob- 
literate prejudice, I will place before those interested in the 
well-doing of the farmers of this kingdom, facts and experi- 
ments which I hope will be sufficient to raise the curtain that 
has so long hidden the stage of the great agricultural theatre 
of Europe, and concealed from the eyes of the British farmers 
the profits of Flax-growing derived by their continental agri- 
cultural neighbours, from which England derives scarcely any 
benefit, although it appears, from the Irish Farmer's Journal, 
these people have been draining annually from us between 
ten and twelve millions sterling for Flax, oil-cake, and Flax- 
seed ; and it appears by the parliamentary returns up to the 
5th of January, 1844, that this sum, drawn by our continental 
friends, is very little short of the whole value of manufactured 
cotton goods exported by us to all parts of the globe — viz., 
£16,249,268. By the same returns, I observe that the whole 
amount of our exports in Linen, Flax, and Tow-yarns, was 
£3,603,079 ; so that it follows, we consume the agricultural 
produce of Belgium, &c, to the amount of from seven to nine 
millions sterling annually, and this sum may and ought to be 
kept in this country, if landlords and farmers will but study 
their own interests. I would just say to the calculating 
farmer — Consider the population of Great Britain 18,800,000, 
deduct the inhabitants of cities, towns and villages } wdio are 
merchants, manufacturers and traders— then, on seeing what 
number you may allow to be farmers, ask } 7 ourselves, how much 
of this twelve millions your own share may be ? and do not forget 
the example you have before you in the north of Ireland, 
where Flax-spinners declare that some of them who have paid 



PROFITS OF FLAX CULTIVATION. 



91 



£40,000 per annum to the French, Dutch and Eussians for 
Flax, now distribute those large sums annually amongst the 
farmers in their immediate districts. 

"Having inserted in my former letter, published in your 
paper, on this subject, the names of several gentlemen who 
have, by instructions from the Belfast Flax Society and 
myself, grown Flax in this country and in Ireland, with profits 
ranging from £20 to £50 per acre, I wish to bring forward 
additional proof, in order to satisfy agriculturists that no 
crop will remunerate them like that of Flax ; and as I have 
just had a conversation with a gentleman who farms several 
hundred acres in Norfolk, and frequently grows Hemp, but 
who has never attempted to produce Flax, I shall quote his 
calculation as to the expenses and profits on the growing of 
eight acres of wheat, in order that those who read this letter 
(and are not practical farmers) may compare the expenses and 
profits, which are evidently in favour of Flax-growing. This 
gentleman's argument against Flax-growing is, that by grow- 
ing there is no straw left, as there is by growing wheat, and as 
a consequence, the land would be run out for want of manure; 
but, as by his calculation, eight acres will only produce 
£16 16s. worth of straw, I think it will not require much cal- 
culation to convince farmers who fatten cattle, that £72 10s. 
worth of Flax-seed, which can be had off eight acres, will 
produce more manure than £16 worth of straw. 



92 



DICKSON ON THE PROFITS OF 



Dr. £ s. 

To eight acres of 

land, at 26s. 9d. 10 14 
120 loads farm- 
yard manure, 

at 4s 24 

„ Drawing 3 

„ Spreading 1 

„ Ploughing 3 

„ Harrowing and 

rolling 

„ 80 pecks of seed 5 

„ Drilling 1 

„ Rolling and 



16 




8 

1 12 



harrowing 

„ Hoeing 

„ "Watching 

„ Eeaping 2 

„ Carting 2 

„ Thrashing 5 12 

„ Tithe 

„■ Poor Rates 16 

3 , Church and sur- 
vey-rates 



Wheat. 
d. 







8 
8 




1 12 







12 



Balance, or profit 13 10 



£78 8 



Cr. £ s. d. 

By 224 bushels of 

Wheat at 5s. 6d. 61 12 

„ Straw 16 16 



£78 8 



"As £13 10s. appears to be the profit that a Norfolk farmer 
has on growing eight acres of wheat, I beg to call attention to 
the following : — An Irish gentleman, Mr. Cassidy, of Glen- 
brook, Mugherafelt, Ireland, in writing on the 26th ult. to the 
secretary of the Belfast Flax Society, says—' I have read 



FLAX COMPARED WITH WHEAT. 



93 



with much pleasure and interest the discussion on the Flax 
question, in the Farmer s Journal, and I must say the 
opponents of Flax do it most gross inj ustice. For instance, in 
1843 I got £145 for Flax grown on barley six Irish acres (or 
say nine English acres), and I calculate, after making a liberal 
allowance for expenses, I had £100, or more than £16 per 
acre clear profit by selling the Flax at 8s. to 8s. 6d. per stone 
in Cookstown.' Then he adds — 'This year I saved some 
seed of the Flax on the Courtray system [before this he did 
not do so : it was as usual lost in the watering] ; on applying 
it I find the seed excellent and nutritive food for milch-cows, 
pigs and horses ; and to this kind of food we attribute the 
remarkable sleekness of animals feeding on it ; and we observe 
that the milk of the cows improves both in quality and 
quantity immediately after we commence giving them the 
bolls. 5 

" Now, as this gentleman states that he had, without the seed, 
(for it appears he followed in 1843 the old system) a clear 
profit on the Flax grown on eight acres of ... £100 
We must add to this what seed he should 
have had according to the Norfolk farmer's 
calculation, 29 bushels to the acre, or 232 
bushels at 3s. 6d. per bushel .=. 72 10 

£172 10 

16 Therefore, had he saved the seed, even working the Flax 
on the old system, he would have had a clear profit of 
£21 lis. 3d. per acre; whereas, had he managed the whole 
crop on the improved method, he would have got much more 
than 8s. 6d. per stone; in all probability 10s. or 12s. It is 
a well known fact that any uneducated ploughman can sow 
and reap off an acre of good land from thirty to thirty- five 
bushels of wheat or barley. In this case, the land gives the 
quality, and does all after the seed leaves the hand that sows 



94 



DICKSON ON THE PROFITS OF 



it ; but in Flax growing the land will not do all— it produces 
the bulk, but skill and hand management give the quality ; 
therefore, the cultivation of such a crop is certain to give 
pleasure and profit to a skilful and practical farmer, who will 
give the plant the attention required. 

ee Having read with pleasure the letter following mine, in page 
247 of the Gardener's Chronicle, and agreeing as I do with the 
writer's views and with every syllable he makes use of 
respecting the neglected portion of Ireland ; and comparing 
those parts with the northern province, which is attended to 
by considerate landlords — such men as the late and much 
lamented Marquis of Downshire — and knowing as I do the 
good results from landowners in that quarter taking up the 
subject of Flax cultivation, and interesting themselves in 
everything calculated to benefit their tenantry, I must 
borrow a few words from the letter alluded to, and ask how 
it can be that the newspapers are daily filled with advertise- 
ments of railway companies, joint-stock companies, and many 
other uncertain speculations, patronised, as would appear 
from the prospectuses, by noblemen and other landed 
proprietors, yet not one company has started in this country 
to grow or to encourage the growth of Flax, an article that 
is consumed in such quantities, and is of such vast importance 
to the landed interest ; and above all, so certain to leave a 
profit for labour and money employed f I do not expect to 
see the government starting model-farms in every county or 
district in England ; but I say, if the landowners of Great 
Britain will not be alive to their own interests, individual 
capitalists had far better invest their money and try what 
they can clo to keep in this country the £10,000,000 or 
£12,000,000 sterling now paid away annually to foreigners 
for Flax, oil-cake, and Flax seed. They will find a ready 
market in Yorkshire and Lancashire for all the Flax thev can 
produce ; and they will find buyers for their seed and oil-cake 



ELAX COMPARED WITH WHEAT. 



95 



among the farmers who may not grow it, for they do admit 
it is superior to anything yet found out for fattening cattle. 

lt As landowners are prevailed upon everywhere to lend their 
names, capital and influence to speculation on embankments 
and excavations, it might be prudent for them, while they sink 
their money in railways, to reflect on the state of the tenant 
farmers, while the manufacturers, to a man, are calling out for 
open ports and a free trade in corn ; and as by this letter I 
prove that a farmer can grow on eight acres of land what will 
leave £172 10s. profit, a sum sufficient to pay the rent of a 
farm containing 125 acres at the highest average price in 
England (Leicester, £l 6s. 9d.), it might be advisable for 
landed proprietors to do less in railways and use a little of 
their unemployed capital and influence in establishing a company 
for the growth of Flax, an article that it is evident will enable 
farmers to pay their rents, regardless of the present protecting 
duty, whether on or off. This could be done by a joint-stock 
company, with branches and model farms in different districts ; 
such a company w T ould command the influence and assistance of 
a powerful and wealthy body — the Flax spinners of Great 
Britain— who are deeply interested and most anxious to see 
an article grown at home for which they have to look to 
foreigners — an article so superior to cotton in texture and 
durability. Such a company will not only act as a GOLDEN" 
LINK BETWEEN AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE, but the good 
effects are certain to be soon felt by the majority of the 
people, small farmers and labourers — a class whose condition 
landlords should study to improve, for by so doing they will 
enlist an army of defence, in reality a protective society, so that 
all attempts in future to create disunion between the people 
and their landlords ivould be in vain. 

" As English landowners need not be told that spinners and 
manufacturers of cotton keep their eyes steadily on what is 
most likely to benefit their trade ; it may not be out of place 



96 



DICKSON ON EL AX AS A 



to inform them that, as the short staple of cotton can never 
be got to unite or work in with the long staple of Flax, there 
can be no amalgamation of those articles, and as a conse- 
quence, there is but little chance of an interested anion beticeen 
the cotton and agricultural interests, for, in my opinion, they are 
as wide as the poles. This being the fact, let the landowners 
of Britain encourac^e the landowners to cultivate Flax — an 
article certain to increase the linen manufacture of this 
country — and they will soon find that (as he that will be free 
must strike the blow) they have struck a heavy blow at the 
head-quarters of discontent, where the cotton trade is exten- 
sively carried on by persons who are not to be quieted until 
(like Belfast) many of their mills and power-looms are turned 
from cotton to the spinning and manufacture of Flax — an 
article that. I am prepared to prove will not exhaust the soil 
more than a crop of Wheat, whilst I prove that by many ex- 
periments, the profits far exceed any other crop the farmer 
can commit to the soil. 

" I am, Sir, yours respectfully, 

" J. H. DICKSON. 

"London, 31st May, 1845." 



LETTEK III. 

flax a restorative, not an exhausting crop. 
[Authority: Professor Kane.] 

To the Editor of the " Intelligencer 
^Sie, — As there are many eminent houses engaged in 
Flax-spinning in your town, who would, no doubt, rejoice to see- 
the Yorkshire farmers assembled in Leeds:, with their cart- 
loads and boat-loads of Flax, the produce of their own culti- 
vation — if you will permit me to occupy a column in your 
journal at this time with a few observations on the subject, in 
order to remove prejudice and misapprehension, 1 shall not 



RESTORATIVE, NOT AN EXHAUSTING CROP. 



97 



again draw so largely on your valuable space, at any one time 
on the subject. 

t6 As there are many tales told calculated to prejudice land- 
owners as well as farmers, and prevent experiments in Flax- 
culture being made, I wish now to call attention to observations 
and experiments, in order to disabuse (if possible) the minds of 
those farmers who labour under the delusion (handed down to 
them by their grandfathers) that Flax not only exhausts the 
soil, but is ruinous to the producer, and as I think the evidence 
I now bring forward will be sufficient to satisfy the farmers, 
and prove the absurdity of such threadbare tales, I must 
address myself to those landlords who prohibit (by the terms 
of the leases granted) the cultivation of Flax. Surely they 
are more open to conviction than to continue to believe mere 
assertions in preference to facts proved by experiments, 
and corroborated by the learned and professional men 
whose lectures on agricultural subjects have earned for them 
the thanhs of so many noblemen and farmer's clubs in the 
three kingdoms. I cannot believe that there is a landowner 
in England so contracted in his ideas as to take advantage of 
such restrictions being (through downright ignorance of the 
nature and value of the plant) in leases against its cultiva- 
tion. If they consider it a more scourging crop than wheat 
(and that I deny it to be), have we not skilful chemists able to 
direct us to restore to the soil, by the many now available 
manures, those ingredients of which Flax may be found to 
have robbed it ? And would not the oil-cake, or what is 
better, the crushed seed, not only be highly beneficial in the 
feeding of animals, but is it not acknowledged BY ALL that 
there is nothing equal to it as an enriclier of the farm-yard 
manure ? With these facts before the eyes of the opponents 
of Flax, I shall proceed to call their "attention to further 
evidence on the subject. 

" As I cannot expect farmers to give the subject, of which I 
G 



98 



DICKSON ON FLAX AS A 



am the humble advocate, the consideration that they would do 

if the same was placed before them by a man of more influence, 
I must, therefore, endeavour to support my argument by the 
observations of men whose efforts in agricultural improvements 
have done much to advance and connect science with the agri- 
culture of Great Britain. I have already used the names of 
Flax-spinners, and in order to corroborate my statements I 
shall now add that of another, Mr. Crosthwaite, of Dublin, 
who stands in Ireland, as Messrs. Marshall and Co. do in 
England, at the head of the Flax-spinning trade, and I must 
couple with this gentleman the name of a professor, whose 
works are acknowledged to be of national importance. The 
following is a quotation from Dr. Kane's writings : — 

" 'Mr. Crosthwaite, whose intimate acquaintance with all 
branches of this industry renders his authority highly 
valuable, considers that there are about 100,000 acres 
under Flax in Ireland, and that the produce is about 30,000 
tons, of an average value of £50 per ton. This is 6s. 3d. 
per stone, and should give about £12 10s. for the usual 
produce of the statute acre. The Flax, when it has grown 
to suitable maturity, according as the design is to allow it to 
ripen its seed or not, is pulled, and either immediately or in 
the next spare season, according to the circumstances of the 
locality, it is subject to the process of retting or watering. 
In the stem of the Flax there may be recognised three struc- 
tures — the outer skin or epidermis, covering a close net-work 
of fibres which enclose the plant as in a sheath, and in the 
centre a stem, of dense, pithy material. The fibrous net-work 
is connected together by a glutinous matter, which must be 
decomposed before the fibres can be separated from the stem, 
and it is to soften and rot this substance that the plant is 
steeped. If the steeping be continued too long, the fibre 
itself may rot, and be weakened and injured in quality ; if the 
steeping be not continued long enough, the fibres are not 



RESTORATIVE, NOT AN EXHAUSTING CROP. 99 



thoroughly separated from each other, and the quality of the 
Flax is coarser than it might he. When the Flax is steeped 
the water acquires a darker colour, a disagreeable odour, and 
it is well known, becomes poisonous to fish. This arises from 
the solution of the glutinous material which had cemented 
together the pure fibres. The author of the Survey of 
Somersetshire (Mr. Billingsby) says — " Haying myself culti- 
vated Flax on a large scale, and having observed the almost 
instantaneous effect of Flax-water upon fish similar to that 
produced by lime, I was led some years ago, to apply it to 
some pasture land, by means of watering carts similar to those 
used near London for watering the roads ; the effect was 
astonishing, and advanced the land in value 10s. per acre.' " 

' ' This extract shows that Professor Kane has conversed with 
Flax spinners and has been made acquainted with the details 
of Flax culture. The following passage on the same subject 
is taken from the Scottish Farmer; and as the writer of the 
article is already partly convinced against his will, I hope 
fully to convince him that Flax is not an exhauster of the 
soil :— 

" ' The landlords of Scotland have hitherto been opposed to 
the growth of Flax, in consequence of its being a ' ' scourging " 
crop, and in the majority of leases a clause is introduced 
prohibiting or restricting its growth. Professor Low says 
(and all our agricultural authorities agree with him), that Flax 
is an exhauster of the soil and the farm, and more so when its 
seeds are permitted to arrive at maturity. When pulled green 
its effects are less injurious; in which respect it follows the 
general law of other cultivated plants. But still, at whatever 
period reaped, it is thus an impoverisher of the farm, that its 
stems yield no return in manure, and that its seeds only do so 
when consumed upon the farm. In a paper read by Dr. Kane 
before the Eoyal Irish Academy, that gentleman attempts to 
prove that in the production of the fibre no exhaustion of the 



100 



DICKSON ON FLAX AS A 



soil takes place, that substance being exclusively composed of 
organic matters derived from water and the atmosphere. He 
says, "in this respect the fibre differs from the woody stem 
which it surrounds; as the latter, by combustion, yields a 
considerable quantity of ash, consisting of inorganic compounds 
derived from the soil ; but then the woody part of the plant is 
not removed off the farm, it being of exceedingly little value ; 
and however the cultivation of the crop may exhaust the 
particular part of the farm on which it was grown by the 
matters contained in this woody fibre, it is apparent that the 
farm itself will not thereby be exhausted, as these matters are 
returned to some other portion of it in conjunction perhaps 
with the manure of the farm-yard. The proportion of 
inorganic matter contained in the seeds is very small compared 
with its entire bulk, so that the consumption of the seed on 
the farm not only makes the Flax a non-exhausting crop, but 
absolutely a restorative one.' " 

u Dr. Kane is supported in his theories by the report of the 
Belfast Society, which says, 'the principal objection urged 
against the extended growth of Flax is, that it exhausts the 
soil without returning anything to it. But by saving the seed 
and seed bolls, and feeding upon them, the manure thus 
produced can be leturned to the ground, and will supply most 
of the valuable constituents abstracted from it during the 
growth of the plant. The Flax shaws from the mill and the 
putrescent water from the Flax pools should be fermented 
together and returned to the soil. The land would thus have 
replaced on it almost e^ery particle of matter formerly 
abstracted by the crop ; as it has been ascertained beyond a 
doubt by chemical analysis, that the fibre for which the Flax 
plant is cultivated, is produced entirely from the atmosphere.' 

c< If we consider the quantity of seed for consumption on 
the land given by the Flax- crop, we may well call it a 
manure-producing crop, rather than an exhauster of the soil. 



RESTORATIVE, NOT AN EXHAUSTING CROP. 101 



At the monthly meeting of the Belfast Flax Society, held 
on the 16th of July, the following '-letter, which had been 
sent by one of its members, was read by the Secretary : — 

" ' I am happy to be able to bear my testimony to the fact 
that if Flax be judiciously grown and well handled, there is 
no other crop that will pay like it. I had last season not 
quite eight Irish acres of Flax, from which I had 295 stones, 
which brought 8s. per stone in Cookstown market, and 
31 stones at 6s., besides "4| cwt of scutching tow, at 9s. 
per cwt. : — 

295 stones, at 8s. ... ... £118 

31 stones, at 6s. ... ,.. 9 6 

4j cwt. tow, at 9s 2 6 

£129 6 6 



being upwards of £16 per acre ; besides this, I had an 
exceedingly large quantity of bolls, which fed my cattle to 
the greatest advantage during the whole season, and as much 
seed saved, on the Courtray system, as sowed about three 
acres tins year.' 

"The seed in the bolls, if it amounted to an average 
Norfolk crop, would be equal at least to 319 bushels, so that 

I may add to the £129 6 6 

The value of 319 bushels of seed, at 6s. 3d. 

per bushel 99 13 9 

£229 3 

And 11 English acres, if it cost £100 to bring it to market, 
would have £129 profit on what I call a middling or very 
light crop of Flax, viz. — 30 stones per acre. 

" Now, with all deference to Professor Low, I must believe 
experiments before his assertions j and I believe that Flax has 
never got a fair trial in Scotland to enable him to tell us how 



102 



DICKSON ON ELAX A3 A 



much more it exhausts the soil than a crop of wheat, or to 
answer this question— how much manure will it take to bring 
the ground into the same condition after growing Flax that it 
would be in if it had been sown with wheat ? It is only in 
this way we can come to anything like a correct idea of the 
subject, and, as I have said before, I have had as abundant a 
crop of oats, and also clover, after Flax, as ever I had after 
wheat or barley. I challenge the opponents of Flax to 
answer this question, and then we can calculate the expenses 
of restoration, and the means we have of doing it by growing 
Flax ; for, according to every calculation I have seen, showing 
the expense and the profit on wheat or any other crop, there 
is none to be compared with even a middling crop of Flax, as 
the most remunerating crop for the farmer — and as I am not 
confined to the quotation of one, two, or three experiments, in 
order to prove the fact, I shall give another instance of what 
may be made by its cultivation. 

" The Rev. G. Ash, Glebe, Ballaghy, Ireland, in writing to 
the Secretary of the Belfast Flax Society, to tell him of the 
success of his first experiment, says : — 

" ' I sowed thirty- three pecks of seed on three acres and 
three roods of ground, Irish measure, and I have had 236 
stone of 16lbs. ? or in Armagh-market stones 266 J. I have 
two sacks grown from the same seed saved from my own 
sowing, and I have two tons of linseed meal, which saves me 
purchasing bran, &c.' 

' ' Here is the first experiment. A gentleman unacquainted 
with Flax-growing sows 13 J bushels of seed on about five 
English acres, and as 266J stone, or 53J stone to the acre, 
two sacks of seed and tivo tons of meal ; now, as it is well known 
that the seed, if properly saved, will pay sent and all 
expenses, we must reckon Mr. Ash had for his trouble, profit 
as follows : — 266 J stones of Flax, say 8s. per stone, £106 8s. Od. 
Added to this proof of the benefits derivable from Flax 



RESTORATIVE, NOT AN EXHAUSTING CROP. 103- 

cultivation, I shall quote one more on its advantages, which I 
have taken from the Agricultural Gazette :— 

" ' Effect of oil-cake on the Manure of the Animals 
FED ON IT. — A friend of mine has lately adopted a plan, which 
under the same circumstances I should strongly recommend ; 
it is that of giving a small quantity of oil-cake to animals 
grazing, for the sake of improving an ordinary pasture ; and 
its effects are astonishing The pastures I allude to are small, 
and one or two more bullocks than they are calculated to carry 
are put into each : the lot are then allowed 4lbs. of cake per 
day per head ; this at a cost of about 2s. per head per week* — 
which I believe the stock well paid for — has entirely altered the 
face of the pastures from what they were three years ago, when 
the plan was first adopted by him, and I believe without any loss 
to himself.' — G. Dobito, English Agricultural Society's Journal, 

"I" could, if necessary, multiply evidence ; however, as I 
consider I have now placed undeniable facts before you, I 
will conclude my remarks by a quotation from a letter from 
James M'Adam, Esq., Secretary to the Belfast Society, on the 
18th December last. He says, ' As a proof of the great 
demand for Flax at present, I may mention that from this 
port orders are now out for 300 tons of Flax from Egypt, and 
from 2,000 to 3,000 tons, value £70,000 to £100,000, from 
the Baltic; and this in spite of the largest home grown crop 
for several years. There have been lately erected in this 
neighbourhood 60,000 additional spindles, which will be at 
full work during the ensuing year, and which, it is calculated 
will consume 3,000 additional tons of Flax yearly. 5 

"If this be not proof sufficient to satisfy farmers and land- 
owners of the importance of Flax-cultivation, I can only say 
that they require such men as the learned Professor Kane to 
go amongst them. 

' £ I am, Sir, yours respectfully, 

"J. EL DICKSOX. 

"6, De Beauvoir Square, London/' 



104 



DICKSON ON FLAX AS A 



LETTER IY. 

FLAX IMPKOVEMENT SOCIETY'S MEETING AT BALLINASLOE, FLAX 

CULTURE CONDEMNED BY MR. BEAMISH. 

Observing in the Agricultural Gazette, on Saturday, at 
page 744, that objections were made to the cultivation of Flax 
by Mr. Beamish, at Ballinasloe, I think proper to give the 
particulars as they appeared in that journal, hoping to convince 
that gentleman of his error in taking for his guide the produc- 
tions of theorists in preference to the opinions of practical men ; 
and as I intend to notice his quotations from Mr. Stephen's 
Booh of the Farm, I shall first present my readers with 
Mr. Beamish's observations, and after giving space to the 
answers of Messrs. Macartney, Walker, and Hazlett, gentle- 
men farmers from the North of Ireland, whose remarks, from 
thirty years practical experience in Flax-culture, will no doubt 
have their effect with British farmers, I hope to satisfy those 
who believe Mr. Stephen's observations on the nature of the 
Flax-plant, that he has imprudently, if not unfortunately for 
himself, touched on a subject that I am prepared to prove he 
is totally ignorant of, however deserving his work may be on 
other matters connected with agriculture. 

FLAX IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY. 

11 A meeting of the Flax Improvement Society was held at 
Ballinasloe during the visit of the Irish Agricultural Society. 
The Secretary read the report of the proceedings of the Society 
for the last year. After the report had been read, Charles 
Beamish, Esq., county Cork, proceeded to state some objec- 
tions to the cultivation of Flax as being deteriorating to the 
soil. He said : — ' According to Mr. Stephen, in his Book of 
the Farm, page 1036, Flax must be kept clear of weeds 
during the summer ; and as to growing grass seeds, even the 
low-growing white clover, amongst Flax, it should make no 



RESTORATIVE, NOT AN EXHAUSTING CROP. 105 



difference to the Flax-plant whether it is choked by a valuable 
or a worthless plant, since both would equally be weeds in 
reference to it. Sowing Flax on clean land will save much 
of the cost of weeding (that is after a green crop) as turnips 
and potatoes, the cleansing of which will have rendered the 
soil comparatively clean for Flax. If Flax be thus cultivated 
in lieu of a corn crop, its culture may be practised without 
much deterioration to the land ; but if it be determined to 
regard Flax as a green crop and cause a corn crop to follow it, 
the land will in time assuredly feel the scourging effects of 
such a system, and oblige its cultivators to abandon it alto- 
gether. It should never be lost sight of, in considering this 
question, that to raise Flax must bring it into competition 
with white crops and not green crops, because to raise it as a 
green crop would be to deteriorate its quality, by bringing it 
into immediate contact with manure, and if it be raised 
without manure as a fallow crop, it must materially deteriorate 
the soil ; no species of crop being more scourging to the soil 
than Flax, not even a crop of turnip-seed. In the harvesting 
of a Flax crop we are placed in this dilemma — that either the 
quality of the Flax or the seed must be sacrificed. The seed 
separately will not pay the expense of culture. Seed is 
produced from six to twelve bushels per acre ; taking the 
highest at twelve bushels, that is one-and-a-half quarter, and 
taking it also for granted that it will be fit for sowing and 
worth £3 per quarter (the highest price given in 1844), the 
gross return would only be £4 10s. per acre. The Flax crop 
varies in weight ; of rough dried fibre (according to season and 
soil), from three to ten cwt. per acre ; and taking the high 
produce, five cwt. per acre of dressed Flax at the highest price 
in 1844, of ;£6 per ton, the yield will be £31, from which 
have to be deducted the expenses of beetling, scutching, and 
heckling, and waste and loss of straw for manure, when the profit 
will not exceed £8jper acre ; but though such a profit would 



106 



DICKSON ON FLAX AS A 



certainly pay the expenses of cultivation, yet it presents the 
most favourable view that can be taken, even with the sacrifice 
of the seecL In Ireland, the case I believe will be the same, 
though much of the soil of that country, being mossy, is more 
favourable to the growth of Flax than that of England or 
Scotland ; yet even there, it would be found impracticable to 
raise good Flax and good seed from the same piece of ground 
at the same time, and if the seed is not good the oil-cake 
will be bad.' " 

Opinions of the present Flax Agitation in Ire- 
land, page 1018. — " Mr. Henderson, the successful competitor 
for Irish Flax exhibited at Belfast in 1843, gives his rotation, 
of cropping as follows : — ( 1. Potatoes or turnips, dunged and 
limed. 2. Winter wheat. 3. Flax. 4. Clover and rye-grass 
cut for hay, being top-dressed with soot. 5. Pasture. 6. 
Pasture. 7. Oats. 8. Flax.' Flax coming after a corn crop 
as above, is injurious to the condition of the soil ; and sowing 
down clover with Flax, after a white crop, is as bad hus- 
bandry as can be, and were it practised on land which had 
grown clover for a long time, clover would soon cease to grow. 
In Ireland, where the culture of clover is but of recent intro- 
duction, it may grow well for some time under any treatment, 
but the Irish farmer should be aware of the nature of this 
plant, and rule his practice by our experience, which would 
warn him against putting so useful a plant to the trial here 
recommended. Flax will, no doubt, grow of finer quality 
after a white crop on land in good condition, or on soil 
naturally fertile ; as on such soils it would be coarse, and apt 
to branch, if grown after a manuring, and if the main object 
of the Irish farmer is to desire to grow Flax of the finest 
quality, it would be better to acquaint him at once of the 
deteriorating effect of Flax thus cultivated upon the condition 
of the soil, than to encourage him to make the other crops he 
raises subservient to Flax, and to inculcate in him a wrong 



RESTORATIVE, NOT AN EXHAUSTING CROP. 107 

opinion* There seems another wrong opinion abroad in 
Ireland in regard to Flax, that that really valuable plant is 
neglected in its culture, and that, were it not for the neglect 
of the Irish fanner he would be much wealthier than he is. 
He should be distinctly assured that, in making money in 
cultivating Flax, he must do it at the sacrifice of either corn 
or deterioration of soil ; for both corn and soil he cannot 
continue to have in perfection, along with fine Flax. Albert 
D. Thaer, who conducted a large experimental, agricultural, 
academical establishment, under the Prussian government, in 
the neighbourhood of Berlin, from 1804 to 1828, says, in his 
Principles of Agriculture, page 537, 'Flax must not be grown 
again till after a considerable interval on land which has once 
borne it. It is thought that a space of at least nine years 
ought to intervene between two crops of this plant, even in 
countries where the soil appears best adapted for its cultiva- 
tion, and where that cultivation is most successfully carried 
on, as for example, in Belgium.' " 

I have not perused the Book of the Farm, but I must 
suppose, as Mr. Beamish condemns Flax-culture, that he 
brings forward Mr. Stephen's strongest arguments against it; 
however, I beg to call attention to the reply his observations 
met with from practical men. 

After Mr. Beamish had ended his speech, which appeared 
to excite universal dissatisfaction among the experienced Flax- 
growers of the north, Mr. Macartney stepped forward on the 
court table and said that, ' ' whatever conclusions Mr. Stephens 
might have arrived at in any theoretical investigation, it was a 
fact which they (the Flax-growers of the north of Ireland) 
had proved by more than thirty years' experience, that Flax 
was not a deteriorating crop when properly cultivated and 
handled." 

The Secretary having called upon G. T. Keilly, Esq., to 
get upon the table, he rose and said, — " My lord, the secretary 



108 



DICKSON ON FLAX AS A 



has requested me to get upon the court table, but I feel that 
I am in my proper position in the advocate's seat, for I am an 
earnest advocate for extending the cultivation of the Flax 
crop." After having aptly criticised Mr. Beamish's remarks 
as being an indictment against the Flax crop, for having done 
serious injury to some land in the county of Cork, " He hoped 
the gentlemen present would be willing to listen to every 
exculpatory evidence in its behalf." He (Mr. Eeilly) replied 
to a question put to him by Mr. Macartney that " He would 
caution gentlemen farmers from engaging to any great extent 
in the cultivation of Flax, unless from the humane considera- 
tion of giving employment to the labourer." 

Mr. Walker, an extensive County Down farmer, and who 
annually cultivates from forty to sixty acres of Flax, came 
forward at the request of the noble chairman to state the 
result of his practice. He (Mr. Walker) said that, " After 
many years experience of Flax- cultivation, he found there 
was a profit on an average crop of from £15 to £20 annually, 
per acre, after payment of all expenses. The rotation he 
would recommend from practice was a five- course shift ; the 
Flax to be sown in every alternate rotation ; some other crop 
to be taken during the intermediate one, but on no account 
should Flax be sown at shorter intervals than seven years. 
He found that Flax did not deteriorate the soil for producing 
any other description of crop, although, when sown too 
closely in succession, the Flax crop itself was not so good as 
when sown according to the rotation he had stated." In 
answer to a question put by Sir Percy Nugent, he (Mr. 
Walker) said that, iC A small portion of the Flax next the root 
was injured by the clover, but he also found that the clover 
was materially benefitted by being grown with a Flax crop. 
It was a crop which gave to the labourer more employment 
than any other, and at a time of the year when labourer's 
services were little required ; as a large farmer could have his 



RESTORATIVE, NOT AN EXHAUSTING CROP. 



109 



Flax pulled and otherwise treated before the harvest opera- 
tions commenced ; it was thus a very convenient crop for an 
extensive farmer/' 

Sir Percy Nugent then observed that, " The opinion in 
Westmeath was, that the fibre of the Flax was injured by 
allowing the seed to become ripe for use." Mr. Walker 
stated in reply that the general custom was to allow the Flax 
to stand too long. He conceived that it should be pulled 
before becoming 'dead ripe,' otherwise the quality of the fibre 
would be deteriorated, In reply to a question regarding the 
time that Flax should be allowed to lie on the ground, 
Mr. Walker stated that, " It depended greatly on the state of 
the w r eather, but from eight to ten days were generally re- 
quired. The ground best suited for spreading it on was a 
newly-mown meadow, and that, if thinly spread, it did not 
require to be turned." 

" Mr. Hazlett, agriculturist to the Flax Improvement 
Society, was next called upon to detail some of the modes 
practised in the growing and handling of Flax. Mr. Hazlett 
stated that, 6t The soil best suited for growing Flax w r as a 
strong loam on a clay subsoil." He stated " that the difference 
in favour of the Flax when pulled green and when allowed to 
become ripe was £4 per acre. The produce of an acre, if 
pulled green, would realise £20, whereas, when allowed to 
become ripe it was worth only £16, but the green bolls were 
only worth £3 per acre, while the ripe amounted to four 
barrels, which, at £2 each, would bs worth £8 per acre, thus 
leaving a balance of £1 in favour of the ripened Flax." 

Mr. M' Arthur, Randalstown, stated that, ' ' The depth to 
which the root of the Flax-plant descended in search of food 
being from two to three-and-a-half feet, he considered that 
Flax was not an exhausting crop to the surface soil, as two- 
thirds or three-fourths of its inorganic food was drawn from 
the subsoil — the surface being thus comparatively at rest." — 
Dublin Farmer's Gazette. 



110 



DICKSON ON FLAX AS A 



Now, as it appears by Mr. Beamislfs statement that Mr. 
Stephen says if a corn crop follow Flax, the effect of such a 
system will oblige its cultivators to abandon it altogether, I 
will just beg attention to a few observations made by a gentle- 
man last spring at the Markethill Agricultural Meeting, in 
Ireland, as a proof that clover and grass, and thin oats of the 
best quality, have been grown after Flax. 

Mr. Herd: "I have had much experience in both 
draining and subsoiling these eight or nine years past. In 
Gosford demesne we have made nearly 100 miles of drains. 
To mention 8,11 the benefits arising from furrow draining 
would take up too much time ; every practical farmer knows 
when his land is wet he can neither put in his crop in season, 
nor take it out; neither will it ripen regularly, presenting 
always a number of green patches. He must, consequently, 
lose one part of the crop by waiting for the other, and at the 
same time, will not have more than half a crop for all his 
labour and expense. I shall merely call your attention to one 
field which I furrow-drained and subsoil-ploughed, about five 
years ago ; it is well known to several gentlemen here present 
that worse land could scarcely be found. I am sure that a 
farmer who had fifty acres of the same kind (without paying 
any rent for it) could not make a comfortable living off it. 
After being furrow-drained and subsoil-ploughed the first 
year I put in turnips, and in part of that field I had thirty- 
nine tons of Swedish turnips on the English acre. I have 
since had an excellent crop of Flax and oats, and two crops of 
clover and grass off the same field, and last season it grew a 
crop of oats which averaged in length from six feet to six feet 
three inches. His lordship's schoolmaster had half an acre for 
a potatoe-garden off this field, which was not drained, but had 
been manured successively for seven years, and this year I 
got that half acre into the field, and the fact is, there were 
only about two stooks on it (of inferior quality) for every 



RESTORATIVE, NOT AN EXHAUSTING CROP. 



Hi 



three I had on the other, -which I think is a very good proof 
of the advantages to be reaped from furrow-draining and sub- 
soiling. The drained portion was also the sooner ripe. This 
field has been lately ploughed, and any one who recollects 
what it was before will now find both its colour and nature 
completely changed, verifying exactly what Mr. Blacker has 
just explained." 

In addition to Mr. Herd's observations, I have no 
hesitation in saving, from many years experience in Flax 
growing, and observations that I have been enabled to 
make upon the practice pursued by several Flax-growing 
farmers, that the statement or advice Mr. Stephen pre- 
tends to be competent to give on Flax-culture, cannot be 
founded upon practical results. On the contrary, it appears 
to me to be founded altogether on erroneous ideas. 
I have -sown Flax in April, and before it came up, I have 
sown clover and grass-seed, and caused a man to walk up and 
down the ridges with a large thorn bush after him, as a sort 
of harrow, and after that caused the field to be rolled, and 
I found I could calculate with confidence on having an excellent 
crop of clover with less seed than if I had sown it w T ith any 
other crop. I always thought the pulling of the Flax moulded 
the plants of clover from the luxuriant appearance the field 
would have in one month after the Flax was carted away ; and 
like Mr. Herd I have had most abundant crops of oats after 
Flax, and therefore I can confidently deny the truth of Mr. 
Stephen's assertions. 

Mr. Beamish asserts (his authority being Mr. Stephen's 
work), that to raise Flax without manure (that is to take a 
crop of Flax after barley, the ground being well manured 
previous for turnips or potatoes), it will materially deteriorate 
the soil, no species of crop being more scourging to the soil 
than Flax, not even a crop of turnip-seed. Now, I will not 
stop here to show what additional profit a good crop of Flax 



112 



DICKSON ON FLAX AS A 



will produce over all other crops, to restore those ingredients 
of which it will (like all kinds of crops) rob the soil, but I will 
produce other evidence to prove that in this assertion also, 
Mr. Stephen has fallen into error. 

In the Irish Farmers Journal, of the 26th March last, the 
editor in his remarks on Dr. Kane's wo?'Ic, says : "In the case 
of the Flax-plant, to which our author has paid more than 
ordinary attention, it is seen that the really valuable part, the 
fibre, is produced from ingredients supplied by the atmosphere ; 
and however much it may be regarded as an exhauster of the 
soil on which it is produced, yet it cannot be said to be an 
exhauster of the farm, the materials originally derived from 
the soil being again returned to it after the plant has under- 
gone the manufacturing processes. 

" Hence this fibre, which constitutes the entire money 
value of the Flax- crop, is produced during the life of the plant 
by the elements of the atmosphere ; and the materials taken 
from the manure, and from the soil, are in reality, employed 
by the plant in organising substances which do not make any 
return to the farmer, but which are on the contrary, under 
certain circumstances, considered to be positively a disad- 
vantage. It is therefore important it should be understood, 
that by a proper system, the growth of Flax and similar fibre 
crops would be destitute of all exhausting influence. That the 
materials drawn from the soil by such a crop would be found 
in the waste products of its manufacture, and would be 
available by being returned to soil to restore it to its original 
condition of fertility. In order to render this principle fully 
intelligible, I shall enter into some detail regarding the 
processes to which the Flax is subjected, and the nature of the 
products obtained from it. 

" The Flax, when it has grown to suitable maturity, 
according as the design is to allow it to ripen its seed or not, 
is pulled, and either immediately or in the next spare season,. 



RESTORATIVE, NOT AN EXHAUSTING CROP. 



113 



according to the circumstances of the locality, it is subjected 
to the process termed retting, or watering. In the stem of 
the Flax there may be recognised three structures ; the 
outer skin, or epidermis, covering a close net-work of fibres, 
which encloses the plant as in a sheath, and in the centre 
a stem of dense pithy material, nearly as hard as wood. 
The fibrous net-work is connected together by a glutinous 
matter, which must be decomposed before the fibres can be 
separated from the stem ; and it is to soften and rot this 
substance that the plant is steeped. If the steeping be 
continued too long the fibre itself may rot, and be weakened 
and injured in quality ; if the steeping be not continued long 
enough, the fibres are not thoroughly separated from each 
other, and the quality of the Flax is coarser than it might be. 
The general tendency is not to rot the Flax enough, but it is a 
process -requiring very careful management and attention, to 
conduct it with the greatest advantage. 

" Having already carried our notice this week beyond its 
due limits, we must reserve our concluding remarks on the 
Industrial Resources of Ireland for another occasion." 

Now, if experiments, corroborated by the opinions of such 
a man as Professor Kane, will not remove prejudices created 
by theoretical delusion, I am at a loss to know what will have 
the desired effect. If Mr. Stephen be right (and that I 
altogether deny) in saying that Flax is more exhausting than 
a wheat or barley crop, the question is, what will be the addi- 
tional amount that the farmer can gain by Flax-culture, to enable 
him to restore his land ? Is there any crop, BUT Flax, that will 
leave the farmer from £15 to £20 per acre clear profit ? I 
say THERE IS NOT ; and I need not bring another proof, after 
Mr. Walker and Mr. Hazlett's remarks, to corroborate my 
statements. Mr Stephen asserts that from six to twelve bushels 
of seed per acre is the most that can be had, and he values it 
at £3, whilst Mr. Hazlett values the seed of one acre at £8, a 

H 



114 



DICKSON ON FLAX AS A 



sum sufficient to pay the expenses of cultivating an acre ; and 
we have plenty of proof that from twenty-nine to thirty- 
two bushels of seed per acre were produced last year in 
Norfolk. Again, Mr. Stephen asserts that the Flax-crop 
varies in weight from three to ten cwt. per acre, according to 
the soil and season; and taking the highest produce, five cwt. of 
dressed Flax, at the highest price in 1844, £6 per ton, the 
yield would be £31, from which deduct expenses of beetling, 
scutching and heckling, waste, and loss of straw for manure, 
and the profit will not exceed £8 per acre. 

Now I confess this calculation is to me a complete puzzle, 
and as I cannot make out what he means by addition, 
substraction, or multiplication, I am of opinion that either Mr. 
Stephen or I must go to school before writing more on this 
subject. £6 per ton the highest price for Flax in 1844 ! — 
whoever heard of such a price? the yield £31 and profit £8 
per acre. Does Mr. Stephen mean £6 per cwt., and that 
there was £31 worth of Flax, less expenses, growing, etc., 
amounting to £23 per acre, leaving £8 profit ? I cannot 
make more of this; however, I should like to see the items 
that make up £23 expenses, incurred in growing one acre of 
Flax, having said that £8 will cover it all. 

There is nothing in his observations that so completely 
proves his ignorance of the value of Flax and the expenses 
incurred in its cultivation, as his bringing forward as part of 
the farmer's expenses the heckling, as in no instance has the 
spinner ever been known to purchase from a farmer heckled 
Flax, as the Flax is always sold by them in the rough state 
after being scutched ; he also asserts that ' ' in harvesting the 
Flax-crop we are placed in a dilemma, either the quality of the 
Flax or the seed MUST BE SACRIFICED :" there can be nothing 
more preposterous than this assertion. 

No man that ever grew Flax could fall into such an 
error as to represent that either must be sacrificed. If the Flax 



RESTORATIVE, NOT AN EXHAUSTING CROP. 



115 



be allowed to get fully ripe the seed will be better, no doubt, 
for sowing, and the Flax will not be so oily or good ; therefore, 
those who want to rear their own seed for sowing had better 
keep a few ridges or perches to get fully ripe for that purpose. 
The Max may be Is. 6d. or 2s. 6d. per stone less in value than 
if pulled more green, but to talk of sacrifice of either is truly 
absurd. Instead of seed being worse for feeding by being 
saved a little in the green state, when there is not so much oil 
in it as when fully ripe, the seed being then more composed 
of vegetable juice is really better for food. Mr. Stephen 
might just as well argue that upland hay saved in the green 
state, when the vegetable sap is all in the stem, WILL BE BAD, 
as to say that "the oil-cake from such seed MUST BE BAD." 

I deny that it will be so, because of being saved before it 
abstracts all the oil from the fibre ; and the experiments made 
in Norfolk, by gentlemen who have tried feeding on home- 
grown seed and foreign cake, must be sufficient to condemn 
the assertions of mere theoretical writers. 

I have, by this morning's post, (Nov f 7th, 1845) received 
the Leeds Intelligencer, from which I copy the following 
extract: — " In 1830 there was not a Flax-spinning mill in 
operation in Ireland ; at present there are in Ulster fifty-one 
in full work, some of them amongst the largest in the United 
Kingdom. They employ 18,000 persons— there is a million 
and a quarter of money sunk in the buildings and machinery, 
and they require a floating capital of £600.000." 

This statement is not altogether correct; Messrs. T. and 
A. Mulholland, of Belfast, had their large cotton factory, 
which was burnt down in 1828, rebuilt, and commenced 
spinning Flax in 1828, — there were two small Flax-spinning 
mills prior to this near Armagh and Newry, and Messrs. J. 
Grimshaw and Son, in 1830, turned their print works to Flax- 
spinning, Messrs. Boomer and Co., with several other printers 
and cotton-spinners, followed their example, because of the 



116 



DICKSON ON FLAX AS A 



increased demand for the article of Flax and tow-yarns, which 
continued to sell freely at double the price that it is just now. 

As the public can only form a correct judgment on a subject 
that leads to discussion, by having the expressed opinions of 
both parties placed before them, I have thought proper (because 
of Mr. Stephen's complaints of misrepresentation of Mr. 
Beamish's quotations from his work) to insert his reply, and 
beg the reader to turn back to Mr. Beamish's remarks, and 
judge of the fact. 

"Discussion on Flax-culture at Ballinasloe. — In 
the Agricultural Gazette of the 22nd of November, page 791, 
is a letter from Mr. J. H. Dickson, on the discussion of Flax- 
culture at Ballinasloe, in which my name is treated in a very 
unceremonious manner. Of fair criticism no author who 
writes for the public has a right to complain, but misrepre- 
sentations are unfair to every author. I am willing to believe 
that the misrepresentations of Mr. Dickson are not wilful; 
and yet he does not quote correctly from your number at 
page 744, to which he refers, and these quotations again are 
not accurately and fairly given from my book. As he, how- 
ever, seems to write in earnest, I am also willing to believe 
him when he says that 'I have not read the Booh of the Faring 
and I dare say he thinks the book the production of a mere 
theorist, and that I am a creature of 1 theoretical delusion.' 
Now, what I would suggest to Mr. Dickson is this, to read my 
book, at least what is said in it on the subject which has given 
rise to his remarks, and to ascertain whether my sentiments 
on the effects of the growth of Flax on the soil are in 
accordance with the sentiments and experience of the Scottish 
farmers on that subject. If he do this, and afterwards adhere 
to the sentiments he has expressed towards me, both in the 
letter and the spirit, then I shall respect the position he has 
honestly taken up. And I also suggest that, should Mr. 
Dickson be in Edinburgh ere long, he will favour me with a 



RESTORATIVE, NOT AN EXHAUSTING CROP. 117 

call, and judge for himself whether he or I know most of 
practical agriculture. Should he refuse to do either, then I 
must protest against his presumption in publicly criticising, in 
a rude manner, the works of a writer he has never read. 
Before concluding, it is necessary that I correct a typogra- 
phical error which appears in my book. In mentioning the 
price of dressed Flax the error consisted in saying £6 per 
ton, whereas the price should have been £6 per cwt., or £120 
per ton, the highest price usually given for Flax. This error 
is very obvious, for only a short way above I had stated the 
ordinary price of good Flax at £90 per ton. I should also 
mention that the facts adduced by me are "all derived from 
Scottish practice, and the amounts of produce derived are all 
given in imperial measures ; but I presume that the quantities 
referred to by the Irish gentlemen are by the Irish acre, or 
perhaps by the Cunningham acre. 

"HENRY STEPHEN. 

" Redbrae Cottage, Edinburgh, 
Nov. 25th, 1845." 



LETTER V. 

DISCUSSION ON FLAX -CULTURE AT BALLINASLOE. 

Having had occasion to visit Leeds in December, I could 
not, from press of business, reply to Mr. Stephen's charge of 
misrepresentation as early as I could wish, but when time 
permitted I made public the following reply : — 

To the Editor of the " Gardener's Chronicle and Agricultural 
Gazette." 

" Dear Sir,— I regret not having with me the number of 
your journal in which my article on the above subject 
appeared, in order to refer to it, and answer Mr. Stephen's 
remarks as to my having misrepresented any portion of his 
Book of the Farm. If by mistake I had done so, I should at 



118 



DICKSON ON ELAX AS A 



once apologise for committing such an error, as I should be 
sorry to give personal offence ; but, as I said, I never read his 
work, although I sent to several shops in the city for it, and 
having only answered Mr. Beamish's quotations from it, I 
cannot imagine I have been incorrect in the meaning of any 
part of his statement. As it is now fifteen years since 
I parted with my last farm, and I know, from reading and 
conversing with farmers, there has been great improvement in 
agriculture, I at once confess Mr. Stephens may be practically 
a better agriculturist than I — that is, he may know how to 
grow beans, peas, and cabbages, and also turnips, and may be 
more skilful in directing the feeding of prize bullocks or 
sheep, because of my want of practice: but in order to 
inform the farmers of Great Britain and those in the county 
Cork, which his book was likely to do, respecting Flax- culture, 
and the advantages, or rather the disadvantages, which he 
says attend it, he should be prepared to tell them how many 
years experience he has had, in order that the public may 
believe that his writings are not theoretical, but worthy of 
reliance. He should tell them of his system of rotation of 
crops and the results, and how he proved it ruinous ; also 
what quantity he had per acre, whether he had sown it for 
one year or ten ? whether he had acres, or tried experiments 
in a garden. This 1 should look for before I could believe 
him practically acquainted with Fi ax-culture, because, from 
the first letter that I forwarded to your journal for insertion, I 
was as well prepared as I am now, with references to figures 
and practical farmers, to prove I was incapable of misrepre- 
sentation, and as to the sentiments and experience of Scottish 
farmers on Flax-growing, which Mr. Stephen allows to be his 
guide, compared with the dozens of practical results to farmers 
in the north of Ireland which I have often placed before you, 
under the teaching of the Belfast Improvement Society, and 
Professor Kane's clear and able lectures, I will allow the 



RESTORATIVE, NOT AN EXHAUSTING CROP. 119 



number of tons of Flax, and its price, produced IN ALL 
Scotland, for the last five years, compared with the value of 
this year's crop in Ulster, £1,700,000, to decide whether the 
Irish farmers or the Scottish farmers should know most on the 
subject* Can Mr. Stephen inform me who of his countrymen 
have got 22s. per stone for Flax, or even the half, (lis.") 
this season ? When he does so, I will admit the Scotch have 
equal pretensions with the Irish to claim being as competent 
to give their opinions from practice. If Mr. Beamish's quo- 
tations from the Book of the Farm be correct, I fear the 
author and those Scottish farmers have taken the same view 
that the Irish farmers did some few years ago, when they 
knew little about the proper course of management; they 
thought it ruinous, and had almost given it up. The seed in 
those days, with the water the Flax was steeped in, all flowed 
into the" river ; the seed, £8 per acre, and the Flax-water 
equal to liquid manure, were lost. I fear Mr. Stephen had 
this old-fashioned system before his eyes when he was writing 
down his observations on Flax; and although I give his 
countrymen credit for being much better farmers in general 
than even my own countrymen in the north of Ireland, 
nevertheless, I consider that province not inferior to any part 
he can select in all Scotland as regards Flax-growing ; and I 
am glad to say that, without Scotch instruction, the farmers 
there have learned how to grow Flax that has been sold at 
£176 per ton in the Leeds market. I have been now connected 
many years with the trade, and I never heard of Scotch Flax 
being worth anything bordering on what I have quoted; in fact, 
I never knew more than two or three mills in Scotland to spin 
yarns much above 50 lea, therefore there was no encouragement 
to grow the article in Scotland, and it is only within the last 
few years that the fine spinners in this town would buy even the 
best Irish Flax. However, I hope the day is not far distant 
when Scotland, as well as England and Ireland, will be able 



120 



DICKSON ON FLAX CULTURE 



to keep a sufficient supply in this market, without our 
depending on foreigners for a raw material that we can 
produce equally as good, fine, and strong, if our farmers will 
only give it proper attention. We only want a few such men 
as Mr. M'Carten in England and Scotland to lead the way. 
I shall attend to Mr, Stephen's suggestions and shall have his 
Booh of the Farm on my return ; but before I do so, I can 
believe he is perfectly correct in saying that ' his sentiments on 
the effect of the growth of Flax are in accordance with the 
experience of Scottish farmers : ' but as I can prove by 
experiments that Mr. S., having allowed these ideas to be his 
guide, has published opinions that are found to be in error (if 
Mr. Beamish 's quotations are correct), I cannot see that he 
should take amiss my quoting practical men to prove that his 
teaching is erroneous. I noticed his remarks from a pure 
conviction that however valuable Mr. S's. work may be on 
other subjects (and I have been told it is so), the doctrine 
laid down on Flax-culture was the same as was believed in 
Ireland up to the last few years ; and knowing from practice 
and the results of experiments made by practical men, that 
ideas so plainly stated in a work on agriculture would prevent 
experiments being tried, I did write il in earnest " and will ever do 
30, in opposition to anything likely to prevent the cultivation 
of Flax in Great Britain and Ireland ; I believe I act as the 
farmer's friend, and the advocate and friend of the agricultural 
labouring classes, when I advise this country to produce what 
will keep her machinery going, in place of sending millions to 
the continent to support a people who tax our yarns and linens 
made from their own Flax, forty to sixty per cent., and 
quarrel amongst themselves about adding an additional duty. 

' ' I am, dear Sir, yours truly, 

"J. H. DICKSON. 

" Bull and Mouth Hotel, Leeds, 
20th December, 1845." 



AS A PROFITABLE EMPLOYMENT. 



121 



LETTER VI. 

"WHY NOT OURSELVES GROW THAT "WHICH "WE SPIN AND 
MANUFACTURE. 

To the Editor of the "Leeds Intelligencer 
"Sir, — I have frequently noticed articles in the public 
journals from anonymous writers, who no doubt wish as far as 
possible to promote the happiness of the working classes by 
some permanent — because self-acting — measure, rather than 
fall back upon the only remedy in law which involves the 
separation of families in union workhouses. To those 
benevolent-minded persons, the annexed paragraph, quoted 
from the Belfast News Letters, may appear worthy of their 
attention, if it has escaped their notice previously ; and as it is 
there shown that lA. 3r. 16p. of land (Irish measure) has been 
made to produce what gave constant employment to 217 
persons for twelve months, at w r ages amounting to £2,2 17 6s. 8d. 
I must request these gentlemen who pride themselves in 
allowing their rich green valleys to remain scores of years 
undrained and unploughed, and who take delight in bringing to 
perfection at a heavy expense, the unfortunate animals that 
are annually exhibited at our Smithfield shows, to consider if 
there cannot be a change made in their system for their own 
benefit as well as that of the working classes. When such 
indisputable facts are brought before their eyes, 1 would, with 
submission, ask them whether they, by their practice, or the grower 
of this Flax field did most good for the country, for the benefit 
of the farmers whom they profess to enlighten, and for the 
working population ? I beg of them to go into a minute 
calculation of the expenses of feeding to perfection one of those 
over-fed animals. Will the produce of three statue acres do it ? 
Then compare the real value of the animal with the £30 prize 
and all added with the result of this Flax-field ; and above all, 



122 



DICKSON ON FLAX CULTURE. 



look at the employment it afforded to the working population 
where it was grown. I do not wish to offer a remark in 
depreciation of that in which gentlemen take an innocent 
pleasure, however much I may be disposed to think symmetry 
(and not an over quantum of fat) perfection; but in my 
opinion prizes should be offered to farmers- to produce and 
bring to perfection what would be most profitable to themselves 
and the country, if smaller sums should be offered for what is 
more eye-sweet or fanciful. I am obliged to compare Flax- 
culture and cattle-feeding because one has been overlooked and 
condemned through prejudice, and the other appears to be the 
leading subject of prize-lists and competition. I have said so 
much through the public journals for the last twelve months, 
on the profits that farmers may derive from Flax-culture, that 
I shall now call the rich landowner's attention to the 
results where the article is cultivated and manufactured, and 
to the good feeling it is calculated to create between the 
agricultural and manufacturing classes of the community. I 
beg attention, therefore, to the following, which is from the 
Belfast News Letters : — ( An improved fabric made from the best 
qualities of home-grown Flax, denominated golden Flax, has 
gained the first prize both for cambric and cambric handker- 
chiefs, at the present November meeting of the Belfast Flax 
Improvement Society of Ireland. We notice this in connec- 
nection with the following summary of facts detailed in the 
work by Dr. Kane, on the Industrial Resources of Irelandj 
which fully goes to prove the vast importance of this branch 
of our industry. We find it therein stated that near to War- 
ringstown, three statute acres of land produced no less a 
quantity than 100 stones of Flax, value £75 ; the produce of 
this field was sold to an eminent manufacturer in the neigh- 
bourhood (the very same that turned out the prize-web) for 
los. per stone; this Flax, in the process of converting into 
cambric pocket-handkerchiefs, will give constant employment 



AS A PROFITABLE EMPLOYMENT. 



123 



for twelve months to about 217 persons, whose wages amount 
to £2,217 6s. 8d. ; add £75 for the Flax, you arrive at the 
value of £2,292 6s. 8d., the elements of which sprung from 
about lA. 3e. 16p. of land, Irish measure, and the entire when 
furnished, will yield a very remunerating profit to the 
manufacturer.' 

" Now, with proof such as this before the eyes of land- 
owners, that three statute acres can be made to pay and 
employ 217 people for a year, I do think it should arouse a 
feeling of desire for experiments in this country. If the 
operatives in one part of the three kingdoms are so alive to 
their interest in the production of this article, why have we 
not more of it here ? We make glad the hearts of the French 
and the Belgians, and care nought for the many aching ones 
at home. Not only does the demand for fine continental Flax 
increase — the importation in 1842 being 55,113 tons ; in 1843, 
62,662 tons ; and in 1844, 70,000 tons— but the price con- 
tinues to advance, although. Ireland produced one-fifth more 
in 1845 than she did in 1840; and now fine Irish Flax 
commands a market at enormous prices, in proof of which I 
shall here relate what I heard the other week from a gentle- 
man in Manchester engaged in Flax-spinning. He told me 
that 180 stones of fine Flax had been bought in Derry at 15s. 
per stone, and brought to Tanderagee and sold at 20s. per 
stone, and from thence to Belfast, and sold to a firm (spinners 
in Lisburn) at 21s. 6 d. As this is not a solitary instance, I 
think proper to notice it, because, in my opinion, there is not 
only an advantage in Flax-growing over all other crops that 
the land will produce, if attended to with skill, but the grower 
has ten times a better chance of gaining a prize than he whose 
time and capital are employed in what is termed J bringing 
animals to perfection.' 

" The Flax-grower who knows his business can tell, as he 
watches the progress of his crop, the extra profit he will have 



124 



DICKSON ON HIS FLAX MILLS 



over the same breadth of land sown in wheat, and this is a 
certain "prize ; whilst the cattle feeder mnst take his chance, 
depending on the whim or caprice of the appointed judge, 
who may hand the £30 prize to his next door neighbour, 
which he calculated on obtaining in order to balance the extra 
expense of extra care and feeding. 

In Flax-culture there is a wide field for the skilful farmer 
to employ his capital, time, and extra attention upon ; and he 
must see that, when we grow what we can manufacture, the 
operatives are thereby better able to be the consumers of his 
corn or cattle, and the money only changes hands , and is not 
transported to another kingdom. I do hope that the above 
statement may have the effect of drawing attention to what 
must (as the above proves) be for the real benefit of the agri- 
cultural interests of the country. 

6 'If cotton could be produced in Lancashire, could it be 
supposed that landowners and farmers would be so blind to 
their own interest as not to grow cotton, and keep in the 
country the many millions sterling that the Americans draw 
annually from Manchester and the neighbourhood. I cannot 
believe so, for the spinners of cotton themselves would become 
farmers, sooner than overlook such advantages. Holding 
these opinions, I cannot but view the position of the land- 
owners, farmers, and Flax-spinners in the same light, for the 
latter are at present sending their millions of gold annually 
to foreign farmers, which English landowners should by every 
means try to keep in this country. 

" I am, dear Sir, yours very respectfully, 

"J. HILL DICKSON. 

"6, De Beauvoir Square, London, 
10th February, 1846." 



BEING ERECTED IN WORKHOUSES. 



125 



LETTER VII. 

mr. dickson's flax mills being ekected in workhouses. 

Sir William Somerville, Bart., being M.P. in 1849, for 
Drogheda, a town where the good effects of the linen and Flax- 
trade adds much to the well-doing of the population, I thought 
well to draw his attention to my views on the question of 
erecting my Flax-machiney in the workhouses, then in my 
opinion, miscalled so ; but as my letters and documents were, I 
suppose, thrown into the waste-basket with others on Irish 
affairs, I think it fair to Sir William to say my letter was 
acknowledged as follows : — 

" Sir William Somerville presents his compliments to Mr. 
Hill Dickson, and begs to return his thanks for the letter of 
the 7th instant., and the other documents which ^accom- 
panied it. 

" Irish Office, London, 

13th February, 1849." 

I verily believe that Sir William would then (as chief Secre- 
tary for Ireland) have supported my views, but for the terror 
of the economists of the "Manchester school," for as money 
would be wanted, the Cobden and Bright parties and their 
satelites, would have made the Irish Office in London too hot 
for Sir William if he had countenanced my proposition — there 
is no denying the fact, for no measure would they support that 
would be likely to benefit landowners or farmers, by a relief from 
poor-rates or the reclamation of waste land. Cheap Bread, 
low wages or half-time for factory-hands, are the mottoes of the 
Bright, peace-loving subjects of our Beloved Sovereign Lady the 
Queen, and as cheap material in the shape of Wool or Flax 
cannot be now had, in January 1859, but on the contrary, the 
advance in price is more than one-third over that of the last 



126 



DICKSON ON HIS FLAX WILLS 



year, such, have been the consequences that have followed the 
Bright peace-offerings of these peace at-any-price parties. 
However, we must now hope for better legislation, and that the 
views of all selfish agitators shall be so crushed as to prevent 
their gloating once more on thousands sterling collected from 
their manufacturing brethren. The end of such men ever have 
been and ever will be, as Pope has said : — 

" When the tired glutton labours through a treat 
He finds no relish in the sweetest meat." 

Richard's longing after the sweets of office has taken away 
not only appetite, but all invitations to parliamentary dinners ; 
nothing but rustication can restore him, and as to his com- 
panion, who figured with others of the broad brim, and who, 
not unlike " O'Connell," had many joints to his tail when he 
lead the forlorn hope to the Emperor of Russia — words on his 
career are almost superfluous. Even the u Times" considers him 
not altogether compos mentis during his late excursions to 
the north, after the trial he gave the Birmingham gun-makers; 
what a splendid representative of the interests of that branch 
of business ! They should join the Sheffield sword-makers^ and 
get John's fine figure cast out of the Crimean and Sebastopol 
cannons, and have it erected in the Town-hall in Birmingham. 

Knowing the position of the injured landowners, as well 
as the distress of many of the farming classes in the south and 
west of Ireland, from the heavy tax imposed upon them 
towards the support of the poor in the union workhouses, 
where reproductive employment would be an everlasting 
blessing if properly introduced, inasmuch as if the inmates 
were once taught the art of cultivating and scutching Flax, 
they would be inclined to appreciate the advantages of it, and 
follow up the practice when free of the workhouse, and by 
that means the farmers would be completely initiated into the 
most profitable mode of working up their "crops of Flax — I 



BEING ERECTED IN WORKHOUSES. 



1*27 



wrote to Earl Clancarty, and received the following reply : — 

"Garbally, Feb. 21st, 1849. 
H Str, — There can be no difference of opinion as to the 
benefit of having the population of a county emplo} T ed, when 
possible, upon the manufacture of that which the soil produces, 
and it has been my anxious wish and endeavour to introduce 
the manufacture of Flax into this district, with the indispen- 
sable aid of machinery. Disappointed of finding at hand an 
adequate water-power to erect a mill for the purpose, the 
project is postponed until some arterial drainage (the drainage) 
in this neighbourhood, now above two years in course of pre- 
paration by the Board of Works, can be executed, by which 
the requisite mill-power would be obtained in the best inten- 
tion. It might, however, if it does not involve much expense 
in the outset, be advantageous to establish a scutching mill, to 
be worked by manual labour at the workhouse, in place of 
carrying out, as is at present performed, the preparation of 
Flax by the paupers in the ordinary way, which is certainly 
defective. I should be glad to know from you, in order, if it 
should appear advisable, to bring the matter under the notice 
of the Board of Guardians of the Union, what would be the 
price of a Flax-mill to be worked by hand, and whether any 
and what expense beyond the price and p erection of the 
machine would be required to enable the paupers properly to 
use it. The object of the guardians will be to prepare as 
much Flax as would give constant occupation in spinning to 
about 200 wheels. 

"I am, Sir, your faithful servant, 

"CLAN C ART Y. 

<e J. H. Dickson, Esq., 

Palinerston Place, Dublin." 

When his lordship wrote me on the subject I was unfortu- 
nately engaged in a Chancery suit in Dublin, which left me 
minus over £3,000, all of which remains as unsettled, now in 1864, 



128 



DICKSON ON HIS FLAX MILLS 



as it was m 1849, and having had nothing but loss of time and 
expense in Dublin, I returned home in 1851 with a view to 
finally finishing my mills to be worked hj7ia?id, steam, or water- 
power, and now 1 am, in 1864, prepared to supply his lordship 
with machinery that cannot be equalled in Ireland for the pre- 
paration of Flax, Hemp, or similar fibres for Flax-spinners 
purposes, and now that the Irish farmers, especially those 
in Leinster, Munster and Connaught, who have been induced to 
increase from 6,752 acres last year to 16,936 acres this year, 
1864, it must be gratifying to the noble Earl to know that 
there can be no mistake in the fact, that an additional market 
for Flax is certain to be had in Lancashire for the additional 
supply over last year, if parties in Ireland will only persevere, 
as I have done, to make Flax become in a great measure a 
substitute for cotton ; that it can be done I am prepared to 
prove, and it mast be evident to every man that wishes to see 
Ireland prosperous, that at no time for the last fifty years 
has there been such an opening or such an opportunity as at 
this moment for drawing more closely the two great interests of 
the two countries together (the agricultural and the manu- 
facturing) by the great connecting link of Flax, and as once 
it is properly introduced and spun on cotton machinery and 
the value of the superior article known, the slave grown 
cotton, unless for ladies dresses, can readily be dispensed with 
for every household purpose. 

At a meeting of the Belfast Flax Society, presided over by 
the Marquis of Downshire, the late Mr. James Brown, of 
Donacloney, bleacher and manufacturer of damask and 
diaper, when alluding to a change in his views on the Flax 
subject, said — " When the late Lord Downshire called on 
him to solicit his co-operation and support of the society, his 
answer was that he would give it all the opposition in his 
power; as he then thought that to sow Flax the farmer 
would be only robbing his land. However, on mature 



BEING ERECTED IN WORKHOUSES. 



129 



consideration, he found he had been wrong, and he at once 
joined the society, and he felt that, had the usefulness of this 
body been extended to Ulster sooner, and had a School of 
Design been in operation (and he hoped they would soon see 
such an institution there), those magnificent buildings which 
were to be seen erected on the most picturesque spots near our 
towns — beautiful on the outside, but within filled with 
paupers — these buildings, he was satisfied, would never have 
been necessary for Ulster. Then look ■ at the number of 
people who, in emigrant vessels, left this place, whereas, 
under a proper system of things, they might be profitably 
employed' on. their own farms. He then referred to the linen 
trade of Ulster, and contrasted the condition of the people 
with that of those of the South. A landlord might safely 
reside in the north, receiving benefit himself, and doing good 
to others, instead of being, as he was elsewhere, always in 
dread of the assassin. If the people of the south had 
the linen trade established amongst them, there would be 
an immense field of employment opened to them, and great 
benefit conferred on them. He hoped to see the workhouses 
abolished altogether — [Lord Downshire : ' And turned 
into Flax-mills.'] — and if this were done, and the people 
9,11 usefully employed, all the landlords would be sure of 
their rents." (Cheers.) There was no narrow-minded 
selfishness in Mr. Brown's candid and truthful remarks ; 
he well knew the advantages of producing what we 
manufacture, and wished to see the south and west of 
Ireland enjoy, as he did during life, prosperity, all of 
which arose from the linen trade alone. 

Here the worthy Marquis wisely and with his usual 
thoughtfulness for the comforts of the poor, anticipated the 
use that could, and I trust may yet be made, of the 
buildings described by Mr. Browne, and as his lordship has 
been the first to hint the idea, it will not be unwelcome 
I 



130 



DICKSON ON HIS FLAX MILLS 



news for him to learn that, without the expense of the 
steam-engine or water-power, my invention for preparing 
Flax and similar fibres, if introduced into the union work- 
houses to employ the inmates, is calculated to convert the 
establishments into what may be properly called NATIONAL 
FACTORIES, for, as there is nothing to prevent the scutching 
and other machines from being turned with ease by hand, 
in the same way as a winnowing machine or barn-fanners, 
I fearlessly assert that, through the aid of the workhouses 
of Ireland, instead of the barrier against Flax-culture being 
extended, can be instantly removed, and Ireland's waste 
lands may be made to supply the wants now greatly felt 
by British Flax-spinners, who are now paying one-third 
more in price for Flax than they paid last year (1857) ; 
however, I shall go into this matter at greater length 
hereafter, but before doing so, let me call the reader's 
attention to the advantages gained by one workhouse in 
Ireland, the report of which I took from the Dublin Com- 
mercial Journal, of January 20th, 1849:— 

"A Model Woekhouse.— In the Eoss Workhouse, Ire- 
land, there are 200 wheels for spinning cotton, wool, 
and Flax, at which the women are engaged. There is 
also in it a large mill, which grinds five tons of Indian 
corn weekly. In July the workhouse was indebted £3,000. 
It has since not only paid off the debt, but has now 
£1,000 to its credit. In course of time a bakery and 
brewery will be erected there. The boys are taught 
agricultural and other industrial pursuits. By thus em- 
ploying the paupers, they are encouraged to habits of 
industry and self-dependence." 

What greater proof do our Poor Law Commissioners 
require than this practical working out of my views ? 

The Reverend Doctor Edgar, D.D., of Belfast, being anxious 
to promote the cultivation of Flax in Connaught, recommends 



BEING ERECTED IN WORKHOUSES. 



131 



the best system known to him in Belfast ; unfortunately he 
has been led astray by the reports of the Belfast Flax Society's 
Committee, and as it has turned out that Watt's mill and 
process have been condemned and abandoned altogether in 
Belfast/ is it now evident that either the committee appointed 
to inspect Watt's process were ineapable of the work they 
undertook, before they made their report, or that Watt's 
managers or work-people had managed to deceive them as to 
the produce from the 10 cwi, 1 qr., 25 lbs., said to have been 
worked to produce 234 lbs. of fibres ? I saw one of Lead- 
better's partners here in Leeds, (where I am writing this, 
Dec. 1858,) at the Exhibition in September, and on showing 
him my samples of Flax, Hemp, and other fibres from India, 
and yarns and cloth made from each and all, and telling him 
I depended all, or nearly so, on the work done by machinery, 
he admitted that their affair in Belfast was a dead failure, and a 
great loss. In fact, Watt had nothing of machinery more than 
what has been worked forty years back ; all he had new was 
the steaming process— hence the failure. 

I visited the works at Lisburn in July, 1855, and saw 
nothing new but the steaming box or loom, no machines but 
those of the old school of our grandfathers ; such must 
account for the Rev. Doctor's visit to Connaught being useless 
up to this year, 1 864, 



132 



DICKSON ON THE 



LETTER VIII. 

IF THE PEOPLE IN ULSTER ARE BENEFITTED BY CONNECTING THE 
MANUFACTURING WITH THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST, WHY SHOULD 

THOSE IN THE OTHER THREE PROVINCES LEINSTER, MUNSTER, 

AND CONNAUGHT BE IDLE SPECTATORS. 

Memento probaium esse, Meo prestino more, Forti et 
fideli nil difficile. 

To the Editor of the u Taum Herald" 

11 Sir, — It is now two years since I first made an attempt 
to draw the attention of the owners of property in the 
above-named province, to the importance of encouraging a 
more extended growth of Flax in this country, and the 
manufacture of the fibre into linens, in the hope of making 
(with the assistance of the press of Dublin) some converts 
to my views, feeling anxious to do in Ireland what I have 
since done in England, namely, to instruct, gratis, farmers 
who never grew the Elax-plant before, how to grow it 
equal to the best Belgian Flax. But, having received no 
encouragement from the landed proprietors of those pro- 
vinces, who now groan under the burden of the Poor-law 
taxation, the evils of which they feel from being obliged 
to support in idleness the able-bodied poor, who could 
and should work for their living ; and not having received 
more than two or three applications for information as to 
my "method of Flax-culture, and the various processes it 
must undergo before being made into linen cloth, I returned 
home to London, satisfied that the day was not far distant 
when those gentlemen would see their error, and that other 
observers of Ireland's w r ants, following in my steps, and 
convinced by personal experience, would publish those very 
truths, which I have been for four years continually urging 



REGENERATION OF IRELAND. 



133 



upon the British public, through their journals — truths, not 
taken from the writings of others, or collected, as in some 
instances has been the case, from a tour through the manu- 
facturing districts of Ulster, but from many years residence, 
while giving employment to men, women and children, in 
the cultivation and preparation of Flax, and from having for 
several years (up to 1841) employed from one thousand to 
fifteen hundred and often TWO thousand people in 
making every description of linen GOODS. 

" Sir, I do hope that the move now made for the purpose 
of connecting manufactures with the agricultural productions 
of this country, may not (like many other good objects in 
Ireland) stop short through the want of propelling power u 
Unfortunately for this country, as Lord John Russell very 
justly observed, in his speech on the Poor Laws, early in 
1849, there exists no union ( to repeal) amongst those who have 
tlie acres ; and consequently no power to do good, when matters 
that would permanently benefit the people are brought before 
them. However, it must now be obvious, unless the rising 
generation of the proprietary classes in Leinster, Munster, and 
Connaught, are educated to a better understanding of how 
to reward the industry and toil of their tenants and labourers, 
and also to know more of the business of the manufacturer and 
the merchant, the broad and now poverty-stricken acres of their 
forefathers will not be inherited by their children ; for however 
degrading it might have been in the days of their ancestors, 
to be considered men of business, let them look on the position 
of our Eothschilds, Arkwrights, Peels, Marshalls, etc., and 
ask themselves, how much of all Ireland could these men now 
purchase ? If they will but do this they must see that the 
only ivay to regenerate Ireland is to make it a manufacturing 
country, by working up, as far as possible, the raw material 
which may be drawn from its soil, its mines, etc. 

"It has been said that 'cleanliness is next to godliness/ 



134 



DICKSON ON THE 



If this be true — and who shall gainsay it ? —it is not to be 
expected that persons who have been reared in a filthy hovel, 
steeped to the lips in poverty and want, can know or 
appreciate the comforts that are enjoyed by the manufacturing 
people of Ulster, whose feeling and 'desire of independence, 
under kind and moral employers, make them at all times 
obedient to the law ; and this I know from experience as the 
following facts will prove. 

''Having been obliged, during the years 1838, '39, '40, and 
'41, frequently to visit the cottages occupied by our weavers, 
in the counties of Armagh, Antrim, Down, and Derry — for 
our house had them at work in four counties — I often remarked 
the air of greater neatness and comfort that pervaded the 
houses of those who had two or three looms at work, com- 
pared with the houses of those who had but one. The 
difference arose from the additional income derived from 
increased employment in weaving. The sons and daughters, 
as they grew up, were all taught to weave; and I knew 
many instances where, there not being looms sufficient for 
all, the sons wove by night and the daughters by day, 

"Our best lawn-weavers in Lurgan were young girls and 
lads from sixteen to seventeen years of age ; and I have known 
girls to earn from twelve to fifteen shillings per week, making 
for us 4-4ths linens in Ballymena, where our best weavers were 
young girls and boys. 

' ' Now, sir, mark the good results of such employment, 
and this without the aid of British gold, for the industry 
and perseverance of the linen-manufacturers and bleachers 
in the north enable them to draw the hard CASS from 
America, in payment for their productions. There is above 
£30,000 per week paid in the Ballymena market for linen 
goods by Messrs. Chain and Sons, Messrs. Gihon and Son, 
Messrs. J. and K. Young, and the Messrs. Carrells, and 
others ; and three-fourths of all the cloths bought and made 



REGENERATION OE IRELAND. 



135 



in that quarter of the country, are sent to America by those 
great and enterprising firms, who receive gold in return, 
Therefore, the woollen cloth shopkeeper, the grocer, the baher y 
the butcher and the farmer, are all benefitted by the em- 
ployment given to the WEAVES \ and the landlord, Sir 
Robert Adair, is made as secure for the amount of his 
rent as if it were payable out of the Three-per-cents. It 
is, therefore, evident that, with the exception of the amount 
Sir Robert takes away to spend in London or elsewhere, the 
whole of the money that comes annually from America 
into Antrim for linen-cloth, finds its way, without obstruc- 
tion, into the pockets of the industrious classes in that 
county. This has been proved by the fact that during 
the famine they were able not only to support them- 
selves, but even to contribute towards the relief of the 
destitute in the south and west of Ireland. 

' ' I regret to say that my efforts to make those facts 
more known in this country in 1846 and 1847, and my 
anxiety to place thern before a class in Leinster, Minister, 
and Connaught, whose interest it would be to encourage, 
at any sacrifice, the manufacture of everything that can be 
produced from the soil, proved unsuccessful. I left Dublin 
in January 1847, and continued to keep the Flax- 
question — the growth of the ran: material — before the British 
farmers and landowners. The result (as I shall prove in 
my next) has been most satisfactory. As the Royal Dublin 
Society has lately been favoured with the reading of an 
able document on the condition paid resources of this country, 
written by M. J. Anketell, Esq., the opening question of 
which was, ' CAN AGRICULTURE, WITHOUT MANUFACTURES* 

employ the people of Ireland?' I cannot finish this 
letter in a way more likely to interest those who wish to 
see permanent improvement and employment carried out 
on just principles, than by quoting a speech delivered a 



136 



DICKSON ON THE 



few days since at an agricultural meeting in England, 
by one of my patrons, T. H. S. Sotheron, Esq., M.P. for 
North Wilts — a gentleman who, whether as A landlord 
OR AN employer, may well be held up as an example to 
landlords in any country, as he is not the advocate for 
encouraging men to be at the expense of 'draining farms, 
levelling bogs and ditches, and improving estates for others, 
without being certain of repayment, no more than he would 
be an advocate for them to build houses in this city on 
the property of others without a lease. 

" Mr. Sotheron said — ' Allow me in the first place, in 
responding to the toast you have just drank, to refer to the 
topic (right of the tenant) which has been brought before 
our notice by a friend occupying the position of a tenant- 
farmer, and now touched upon by Mr. Long. (Cheers.) A 
year ago, when the subject was rather more new amongst 
you, I took the opportunity of stating what were my 
opinions on the matter then. Since that time a com- 
mittee was appointed for the purpose of taking evidence 
on this question. The chairman of that committee was a 
gentleman well known as a staunch friend to agriculture, 
and whose name cannot be mentioned in a meeting of 
agriculturists without that honour being done him to which 
he is justly entitled— I mean Mr. Pusey. (Applause.) 
Before that committee a vast amount of important evidence 
was adduced, and I do hope that those whose minds are 
riot clearly made up on this question, will take the trouble 
to read that evidence. The main gist of it is — that it 
rests with the farmers themselves to secure that (e right" 
which we all confess they ought to have awarded them.' 
(Hear.) — [There is not a journal in Ireland but should hold 
up this worthy man, who spends £52,000 per annum of 
his income doing good in his county, as an example to 
the do-nothing owners of property that reside in England, 



REGENERATION OF IRELAND. 



137 



leaving their tenants to the tender mercies of agents, or receivers, 
who are, if not attorneys, the nominees of some of that race.] 

" 6 We find, throughout the evidence, that Lincolnshire and 
Yorkshire are referred to as examples of the beneficial 
operation of tenant security ; and I was most surprised to 
find that in Lincolnshire, thus set up as a model for our 
imitation, tenant-right dates no further back than the year 
1813. Now, this is a proof of the facility with which 
the thing may be [done ; for, if in Lincolnshire they 
have in this short time achieved so much, it certainly 
can be no very hard thing for the farmers here, and else- 
where, to obtain what they desire, if they proceed in the 
same way as the farmers of that county. Especially might 
we hope to see it accomplished here, where we know that 
a most perfect cordiality exists between landlord and tenant, 
where we have such frequent opportunities of meeting 
together and expressing our opinions fully and freely, and 
where, I must say, I have never heard one sentiment 
uttered from which it could be gathered that the landlord 
does not wish to give to. his tenant the fullest extent of 
his right, nor one demand expressed by the tenant which 
did not appear to me perfectly reasonable and just. (Cheers.) 
I say, therefore, that if you will only take the trouble to 
ascertain and define what it is you mean by " tenant-right," 
I think there will be no difficulty in coming to a good 
understanding with each other. The real difficulty is to 
settle what amount shall be paid between the parties as 
compensation for their outlay. If, therefore, amongst your- 
selves, you will only adjust this question — if you will only 
settle by umpirage, upon a fair amount to be paid by 
your landlords, I am convinced that in this county you 
will find all that good which has been secured elsewhere 
by a similar course of proceeding, obtained also by your- 
selves with the most perfect goodwill of all parties. (Loud 



138 



DICKSON ON THE 



cheers,) I have taken the liberty of saying so much on 
this subject, because I referred to it last year, and then 
recommended a similar course to that which I now propose. 
That course is, for the farmers themselves clearly to settle 
what ought to be done between the parties, to determine upon 
the fairest mode of doing it, and then, after the question 
has been fully canvassed throughout the country, to propose 
the course which they recommend at some such meeting as 
the present • when I think we can satisfactorily estabtablish 
a system] of " tenant right (though 1 do not exactly like 
that term) — as beneficial in its- operation as that adopted in 
Lincolnshire. (Cheers.) It is very true, that you may, where 
the matter is leffc ^to the free agency of all parties, sometimes 
meet with a difficult person to deal with, and one perhaps, 
who will not agree to your wishes. But you will always find 
some such persons in every transaction. There are obstinate 
landlords, and tenants, and labourers. But these are the 
exception and not the rule ; and when I see such an array of 
respectable men and of gentry as are now sitting at this 
table—and when, as yesterday, I see such an array of labourers 
all uniting together and respecting each other, I cannot doubt 
that what I say, as to material good feeling existing amongst 
us, will be considered by you not merely as a figure of speech 
to adorn an after-dinner address, but as expressive of that 
feeling which really does exist between all classes. That 
feeling, I doubt not, we shall soon carry home with us and use 
all our exertions towards carrying into operation. (Cheers.) 
You will pardon me if I take this opportunity of speaking on 
a matter of very inferior moment, it is true, to the last I have 
touched upon, but still one in which as you know, I have 
taken considerable interest— I mean the CULTIVATION OF 
Flax. I hope I may be permitted to say two or three words 
on this subject, in the absence of Mr. Schomberg, who I am 
sure, would do it more fully and ably than myself, if he were 



REGENERATION OF IRELAND. 



139 



present I have brought a specimen of the linen made from 
Flax, grown, scutched, and spun on my own estate, and which is a 
good specimen of home manufacture/ Mr. Sotheron then 
produced a napkin and various other small articles, which 
were of a very fine and superior quality. He then proceeded to 
give his own experience in the growth of Flax. The great 
question was, whether it answered to grow it or not. He had 
himself received such a return of iiett profit from his own little 
crop — (he would not enter upon figures) — as to prove to his 
own satisfaction that though the great estimates they had at 
first formed of the profit to be derived had not been met, yet 
that it would amply repay the farmer who determined on 
growing it. There was one great advantage to be derived 
from its cultivation, namely, that they would be enabled to 
grow their own seed for the supply of their cattle ; and as to 
the fibre, he should be quite ready to scutch it all for them 
at his mill, [a Portable Mill for breaking and scutching Flax, 
Invented and Manufactured by Mr, J. Hill Dickson, Skinner 
Street, Bishopsgate, London, and erected and left in working 
order in three days, by two of his Millwrights,] as he was now 
doing to a large quantity which had been sent him for that 
purpose, and the whole of which he would be very glad to 
buy. But the main point was that it would afford a wide field 
for the employment of many around them, who had often been 
without work during the months of winter. These persons 
were the less able-bodied of their labourers, the old and infirm, 
with the women and children who were obliged to stay at home 
during winter. He would, therefore, urge upon all to devote 
some of their land to this crop for the next season ; and he 
would undertake to say that they would be able to spend 
a good deal in labour on their own farms beyond what they 
had yet done, and after all, to put a good profit into their own 
pockets. In conclusion, Mr. Sotheron thanked them for 
having drank his health and congratulated them on the 



140 



DICKSON ON THE 



success of their meeting. This was the largest party he had 
ever seen collected together in that room, and he might 
almost say, that to-morrow his ribs would be black and blue 
in consequence of the pressure he had undergone from the 
large number of Members of Parliament and noble gentlemen 
who had been squeezed into that end of the room where he 
was sitting. (Loud cheers and laughter, amidst which the 
honourable gentleman sat down.) 

" Now, Sir, here is an English landowner, not only willing 
but also able, as the result has proved, to elevate the working 
classes. At his own expense he has introduced manufactures 
into Wiltshire, and connected them with the agricultural 
interest of that county, where such a combination was as little 
thought of four years ago, as it now is in many parts of Ireland. 
And can it be said that he had any knowledge of spinning 
yarns from Flax, and of having it boiled, warped, and woven 
into linen cloth ? No ; L but ' where there's a will there's a 
way,' and Mr. Sotheron needed not to be spurred on towards 
carrying out an object of such vast importance to the working 
classes of the county he represents ; and as there is no way in 
the world of testing the charitable dispositions of men, so as to 
prove if they be sincere in their professions, equal to a call on 
their purses, Mr. Sotheron has proved himself in the sight of 
his constituents, worthy of the position he so deservedly holds 
in the county of Wilts. 

" When those facts are brought before the eyes of the owners 
of property in Ireland, how can they say that they know of no 
way to employ the people who have unfortunately (?) been 
born on their estates ? And these people are not by nature 
assassins, but kind-hearted and full of gratitude to those who 
would seek to improve their condition ; and as to their honesty 
of disposition in general, I can only say, that had those in 
higher circles — the Yankee merchants and the shippers of goods 
in Belfast — behaved as honestly to me as did many hundreds 



REGENERATION OF IRELAND. 141 

of weavers whom I some time since employed, I should never 
have had cause to complain of losses, or to give up the 
manufacture of linen goods in Ireland, for though during many 
years, I entrusted the linen-weavers of the North of Ireland 
with yarns to make into cloth, I never but once had occasion 
to bring one of their number before a magistrate for selling 
the yarn which I gave out to be woven, or for not returning it 
in proper time. I feel very great pleasure in stating this fact 
as I also did on reading his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant's 
opinion of the character of the Irish artists and tradespeople, 
as expressed by him the other day at the meeting of the Eoyal 
Dublin Society ; and from my own experience in figured 
goods, damasks, and drills, I must say, that I fully concur in 
the estimate formed by Lord Clarendon, ©f the real aptitude 
of the people for learning anything taught them ; for on my 
obtaining orders for goods from America and England, which 
were, if possible, generally accompanied with patterns and 
directions to make alterations in the design, I found amongst 
our weavers, many men endowed with superior intelligence, 
not only in connection with their own trade, but on business in 
general. 

"If, then, the working classes deserve this character — 
and I, after an experience of ten years, during which I 
have employed them by hundreds, unhesitatingly assert 
that they do deserve it from me — if even one-fourth of them 
deserve this character, should they be allowed to live in 
huts unfit for pigs, without either door or window to 
lessen the miseries of such an habitation? They deserve 
better, and they have better in the north ; and I can see 
nothing to prevent the owners of property in the south 
and west of Ireland from doing as Mr. Sotheron has done, 
and if they will only make up their minds on the subject — 
those who have escaped from the iron grasp of a set of 
men who have been the ruin of this country, namely, usurers 



142 DICKSON ON THE 

and their co-partners, who disgrace a profession that should 
be respectable and respected — they will find many, like 
myself, ready to give instructions gratuitously to their tenants. 

"As some Irish landowners may not be aware of the 
large sums of money that are annually taken out of this 
country and Great Britain by foreign farmers, who purchase 
no productions of ours in exchange, for Flax, Oil-cake, and 
Flax-seed, I subjoin the following statistics, which, having 
been made up from government returns, may be relied 
upon* A glance at this table must convince any unpre- 
judiced person that it is most desirable to stop so great a 
drain ; and it is obvious that that must and can only 
be done by ploughing up the green and all but useless 
acres, sowing Flax, and giving profitable and permanent 
employment to the people. Let such work be commenced 
(as has been done by Mr. Sotheron) in earnest ; and not 
only will thousands who are now in want outside the 
union workhouse earn an honest livelihood in preparing the 
ground for the sowing of Flax, and in the processes of 
weeding, pulling and watering the plant, &c, but those 
within the workhouse, who are consumers, and who pro- 
duce nothing, could be made to scutch and prepare it for 
market, without being a burden or tax on the owners and 
occupiers of land in the parishes in which they were 
born ; and farmers and their sons, who are now ignorant 
of Flax management, will learn the art, and also the 
manufacturing of linens, &c. 

The total Importations of Flax in 1840 were 62,662 Tons, 

1841 „ 67,368 „ 
„ „ 1842 „ 55,113 „ 

1843 „ 71,857 „ 

1844 „ 79,174 „ 

1845 „ 70,921 „ 

Total ... 407,095 Tons. 



REGENERATION OF IRELAND. 



143 



Tims, the Flax imports for the last six 
years gives an anmrul average of 67,849 
tons, which at the valuation quoted for 
1840, will be about £67 per ton, or £4,545,883 

Add average annual ' imports of Flax- 
seed used for sowing and feeding, 
616,000 quarters, valued at £4 per 
quarter (being 20s. per quarter under 
the price for some years past, in Ire- 
land, for Flax-seed for sowing) ... £2,464,000 

Add average annual imports of Oil-cake 

86,000 tons, valued at £9 per ton 774,000 

It therefore appears we have been paying 
annually for Flax, Oil-cake, and Seed, 

for the last six years, on an average £7,783,883 

" I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 

" J. HILL DICKSON. 

"Dublin, 1st Feb., 1850." 

"AGKICULTUBE FLAX CULTURE. 

" The reader's attention will be arrested by a letter from 
J. Hill Dickson, Esq., which we publish in another column of 
this day's Journal. Bitterly do we deplore the unaccountable 
apathy prevailing in this poor district in reference to the 
subject treated by Mr. Dickson. We have repeatedly urged 
upon the landed-proprietors and farmers of this locality, the 
advantage and the necessity of uniting together for the 
purpose of directing the agricultural resources at our disposal, 
into a more profitable direction. It is true, we could not and 
did not expect, either from our gentry or farmers, the 
application of capital sufficient to make our farms compete 
with Belgium or the Mid-Lothians ; for the simple reason, 
that we know full well they have not the means. We scarcely 
know one of our acquaintance who is in a position to spend 



144 DICKSON'S REPLY TO PROFESSOR LOWE'S 



ten pounds per acre upon his holding or his farm. But if we 
could not do all, we could do much. By a judicious combina- 
tion amongst ourselves and the expenditure of a moderate 
outlay in prizes and in furnishing instruction in various useful 
crops, with the culture of which we are at present unacquainted, 
a great advance could be obtained beyond our present 
situation. , 

" We talk much about protection to agriculture, but here is 
a crop in which, with all the advantages of the soil and climate 
and market upon our side, we permit an annual importation 
of Flax, seed, and oil-cake to no less an amount than £7,783,883 
per annum. In other words, nearly eight millions a year in 
hard cash, for which little is taken in exchange, is paid by the 
mill-owners of this country for an article which could be 
grown at home with pron t to the employer, and furnish the 
means of honest subsistence to our starving population. 

" From the letter of Mr. Dickson, it seems ' that in the small 
town of Bally mena, in the county of Antrim, £30,000 per 
week is paid for linen goods, by Messrs. Chain and Sons/ etc. 
The contrast presented by this town — not much larger, if as 
large, as Tuam — is painful to contemplate. 

"We beg to turn the attention of our readers to a serious 
consideration of the subject of our correspondent's letter. It 
is a duty upon us to combine as one man, in taking measures 
for the cultivation of a crop so remunerative and so productive 
of industrial employment. If the Flax-crop be the rent-paying 
crop in other places, we see no reason why it should not 
become so in this neighbourhood. 

c 'This course would be more judicious than, by seeking 
to return to impossible protection upon corn, throwing 
away time and energies which should be more profitably 
employed. The present letter of Mr. J. H. Dickson, putting 
forth the advantages of the Flax-crop so very clearly, 
induced us to defer until next week the publication of 



REMARKS ON THE FLAX SUBJECT. 



145 



the Ninth Report of the Flax Improvement Society, read at a 
meeting held a few weeks ago in Dublin. Although we fear 9 
Galway is doomed to stand almost alone in apathy, and that no 
efforts of the press will shake their slumbers here, yet we 
shall have the gratification of placing the value of an im- 
proved system of agriculture from time to time before 
their eyes." — Editor's Kemarks in the Tuam Herald 
December 29th, 1849. 

LET TEE IX. 

RESULTS OF PRACTICE IN FLAX CULTURE V. PEOFESSOR LOWE'S 
THEORETICAL WRITINGS. 

Verite sans peur ; V experience est la maitresse des fans. 
To the Editor of the " Tuam Herald." 

Ci Sir, — Interested as you must be in the wide circulation 
of the Herald, and anxious as you must feel for the pros- 
perity of trade and the interest of agriculture, for on such 
conditions depend the ability of your subscribers to dis- 
charge your annual demand, and as I think that anything 
likely to draw public attention will benefit these interests, 
if published, and again meet with your approval, I must 
therefore, without ardenta verba, solicit you to give this 
letter a place in your journal, as I think it is just in time 
to serve the agricultural and commercial interests of the 
country; but as my statements may be thought by surface 
readers too highly coloured, and promising, to such I say, 
audi altrem partem in dispute, from an extract taken from 
Professor Lowe's writings, and published in the Cork Constitu- 
tion newspaper, and judge for yourselves. 

"Being favoured by a friend with a copy of the Cork 
Constitution, I was struck with an article in it, headed 
1 Professor Lowe on Flax-cultivation ;' and as it appears 
the extract has been taken from a publication that is known 

K 



146 DICKSON'S REPLY TO PROFESS OS LOWE'S 

as Professor Lowe's Appeal to the Common Sense of the 
Country, and many may imagine the learned gentleman 
skilled in practice, as well as being Homo prudentissimus 
ingino, I have thought proper to notice his remarks, as 
I am inclined to think that I am one of the class aimed 
at by the fire discharged from the learned Professor's 
battery, which, no doubt, he calculates will tell like 
thunder on the feelings, if not on 'the common sense of 
the country 1 — he writes with fiumen ingenii. I have read, 
more than once, Professor Lowe's remarks on the Flax 
subject, in the hope and expectation that time and research 
would so improve his ideas that he would, ere this, be 
enabled to explain to us how we might grow or produce 
the finer and more costly description of the plant, and 
thereby dispense with the Belgian, or the well-known fine 
and expensive article that we are obliged to import from 
Courtray, to make our cambrics and LAWNS, and I am 
disappointed to find that he has uot improved, nor is he 
likely to improve, so long as he imputes unworthy motives 
to those who would stimulate farmers to grow it, and 
prevent foreign farmers drawing from us (as I shall show 
by last year's returns, taken from the Board of Trade 
accounts now before me, per favour of the President) 
a sum such as I bring out as an average. I find the 
imports of the last two years are as follows : — 
1848. 1849. 

"Flax 65,779 83,825 tons £5,029,500 

(average cost, say £60 per ton.) 

Oil-cake 67,360 50,179 tons £401,432 

(average cost, say £8 per ton.) 

Flax-seed . . . 683,506 469,603 qrs. £1,643,610 
(average cost, say £3 10s. per qr.) 



Importation of 1849, value ... £7,074,542 



REMARKS ON THE FLAX SUBJECT. 



147 



The general price of Flax is, — 

Riga, £35 to £45 per ton. 

Dutch £50 to £80 per ton. 

Belgian £60 to £180 per ton. 
Therefore, £60 is a fair average. 
"As the imports for the last nine years do not show an 
average of more than 67,000 tons of Flax annually, the 
increase in 1849 is here evident, and is a proof that if the 
growing of wheat will not pay for tilling the waste lands 
in Ireland, the growing of Flax should not be overlooked, 
especially if we keep in recollection that five millions 
sterling worth 'of Flax, spun into yarns and woven into 
linen goods, would, in addition to giving permanent 
employment to thousands^ if not millions, of the ivorking 
and starving classes, bring into the country twenty millions 
of gold annually ; — for example, what has made Belfast what 
it is, but the linen-trade of Ulster — or what is it that 
caused that flourishing town to double its population within 
the last fifteen years, but the great Flax-spinning factories 
of the Messrs. Herdmann and Co., and Mulholland and 
Co., who employ 3,500 people in their establishments? 
The professor should visit it, and be able to give more 
than ipse dixit evidence why Flax-cultivation should not 
be encouraged or recommended. 

"However, in his work he tells us that — ( Another source 
of hope which has been supposed by some to be open to 
farmers, is by the raising of certain plants more profitable 
than those now cultivated, and especially lint (Flax) and 
hemp. Doubtless it may be well in certain cases to vary 
the objects of production ; and lint and hemp are plants 
easily cultivated, and have frequently yielded good profits 
to the grower; but it must be remembered that we are 
subjected to the same kind of competition with produc- 
tions of this class of plants as of those used for human 



148 



DICKSON'S KEPLY TO PROFESSOR LOWE'S 



food. Hemp may be raised on the poorest class of soils, 
provided sufficient manures can be supplied, and Flax 
can be raised in unlimited quantity in the countries with 
which we carry on trade, from the north of Europe 
to the south of it, and all over the fertile continent of 
America.' 

"Now, to use the professor's own words, every old 
woman who can remember that every farmer used to 
grow his own lint, knows this ; therefore, there is nothing 
new in the professor's common sense teachings ; but I 
say they do not know, in general, that it requires 
great skill, energy and attention, to produce the finer 
quality of Flax, and therefore the science requisite to 
be taught, by men entitled to have added to their names 
* Professor of the Arts of Agriculture,' is the more to be 
desired, as this is a fact that cannot be disputed (as I shall 
prove before I conclude this letter), and as Professor Lowe 
appears to be incompetent to give any instruction on the 
subject, and is silly enough to condemn those who differ from 
. him, and are practically acquainted with Flax-culture, and to 
impute to them ' a desire to deceive others,' I shall endeavour 
to brighten, if I do not enlighten, the Professor's under- 
standing, not by such assertions as he has made, when he talks 
of the 1 enormous bounties ' that were given in England and 
Scotland (up to a few years back) to induce farmers to 
cultivate the crop, but by giving the names of successful 
cultivators of Flax, their residences, and the year they found 
their experiments to answer; and as the Professor in the 
following extract, studiously avoids telling the year in which 
the 'enormous bounties' were discontinued in England and 
Scotland, but merely says i a few years back,' so that it might 
appear to have had government aid very lately. I now insist 
on him to name the year when such e enormous bounties ' 
ceased, and to say what was the amount of such bounties, 



REMARKS ON THE FLAX SUBJECT. 



149 



as his few years may mean twenty or fifty, whereas some 
might imagine them to be not more than five or six years. 
However, it is well known that the parliamentary grant that 
was given to encourage the Flax and Linen-trade in Ireland, 
was withdrawn in 1828 — although a committee of the House 
of Commons reported that the faith of Great Britain had been 
pledged to this country for its continuance. 

"After the professor informs the readers of his 6 common 
sense ' production, that ' Flax can be grown in an unlimited 
quantity in the north and south of Europe and America,' etc., 
another old lady's story, he goes on to say : — ' If we are not 
then to lay a tax on these materials of important manufactures 
'(which no one would think of doing) the foreign growers 
must possess the same market as ourselves —namely, our own ; 
and we can no more contend with them in cheapness of 
production in these commodities than in any other produce 
of the land. Some speculative persons have been lately 
amusing themselves and deceiving others, with calculations of 
enormous profits, not less, it is believed, than £20 or £25 the 
acre to be got by producing Flax. It would be very easy 
to show those gentlemen that they have left out some of the 
most necessary elements of their calculation. But it must be 
pretty evident, one would think, that if a profit could be made 
of £20 or £25 the acre by raising Flax in England, the 
growers of Poland and other countries of the Baltic, who can 
raise it as well as we can, would not long leave us in possession 
of so profitable a monopoly. The "Dutch will undertake to 
supply us with any quantity we choose to consume, and the 
Dutch farmers certainly do not make £20 or £25 an acre by 
cultivating lint. 

"In England enormous bounties were in use, to be given to 
the farmers to induce them to cultivate lint, but the farmers 
continued obstinately to think they were paid better by 
cabbages and wheat. In Scotland the system of bounties 



150 DICKSON'S REPLY TO PROFESSOR LOWE'S 

were continued up to within a few years back, and the 
bounties given were usually equal to several times the rent 
of the land. While the bounties were paid the Flax was 
produced, but the moment the bounties were withdrawn the 
production of Flax ceased along with them. Farmers are not 
usually so blind to their own interest as to require bounties to 
induce them to make great profits from their land ; and the 
farmers of Ulster who have long continued to raise Flax after 
its production in England, have certainly not been making 
£20 or £25 an acre from any part of their farms. 

But the notion ' has again been spread that Irish agri- 
culture is to be revived by extending the cultivation of lint, 
and the Irish farmers have been told that they will make £4 
an acre by the seed alone. Linseed, along with other sub- 
stances, is certainly an^excellent food for animals, and should 
be more used than it is ; but linseed can be obtained in any 
quantity we please from countries in which the growers would 
be pleased with a profit of £4 an acre, even though the Flax 
itself was burned ; and if linseed be a good food for cattle, so 
are Swedish turnips and clover, the cultivation of which would 
do infinitely more to improve the agriculture of Ireland than 
if half the province of Ulster were employed in the production 
of Flax.' 

' ' Now, as the learned professor, in addition to his assertion 
respecting the i enormous bounties of a few years back/ which 
I say, without fear of contradiction, is erroneous, continues to 
be sceptical as to the profits made by cultivating the Flax- 
fibre, and tells farmers they can have seed from foreign 
countries for £4 an acre, a civil hint that in his superior 
judgment they should send away their cash and not grow the 
crop. It will be evident that he is anxious they should be 
guided by the words of a poet of the old school, who says — 

' Be not the first by whom the new is tried, 
Nor yet the last to lay the old aside.' 



REMARKS ON THE FLAX SUBJECT. 



151 



' 1 However I shall bring forward a few experiments, state- 
ments from practical men, that will serve to shake the nerves 
and sceptical understanding of the professor, which statements 
at the same time must go far to upset his theory and assertion 
where he says (in his argument that £20 or £25 per acre 
could not be made) — 'It would be very easy to show these 
gentlemen (advocates of Flax-culture) that they have left out 
some of the most necessary elements of their calculation.' 

' ' A tenant farmer, on Sir Robert Bateson's property, near 
Mona, Mr. Hugh Dobbin, of Ballymagarahan, has just 
informed me that in 1848, he sowed nine bushels of Flax-seed 
on three Irish acres, which produced him 500 stooks of Flax 
when pulled, and after being pulled, he took one-half or 250 
stooks [to the pits he had prepared for steeping it in, and 
according to the old Irish system, (which I dare say is 
generally known in Scotland by the old women alluded to by 
Professor Lowe) Mr. Dobbin watered, grassed, and scutched, 
his 250 stooks ; and the other 250 stooks he managed after 
the Belgian system. He kept an exact account of the outlay 
and profit of each system, the results of which were as 
follows : — 



152 



DICKSON'S REPLY TO PROFESSOR LOWE'S 



Flax-culture, 





£ 


s. 


d. 


Ce. 


To rent of three 








By first 250 stooks 


Irish acres of 








watered when 


land, including 








pulled, seed not 


the taxes, 








saved, produce 


ploughing, har- 








when scutched 


rowing, seed, 








68 stones of 


rolling, weedin g, 








Flax, sold at 7s. 


pulling, water- 








per stone 


ing, grassing, 








„.Second 250 


and scutching... 


30 








stooks kept over 


„ Balance or 








year, seed saved 


profit on the 








and produced 


growth of three 








four hogsheads 


Irish acres of 








and sold at 


Flax 


59 


4 





£4 4s 



£89 4 



£ s. d. 



Flax produced from 
same, 108 stone 
superior quality, 
which sold for 
9s. per stone. ... 48 12 



£89 4 



"Mr. Dobbin had £59 clear profit on the three Irish 
acres, after allowing £ 1 per acre to cover all expenses, and 
would have had £16 16s. for seed, and £24 16s. for Flax, 
in all £41 12s. more profit, had he not been guided by 
the old Irish or Scotch system of watering it the year the Flax 
is pulled, but kept all his Flax to the following year. May I 
now ask Professor Lowe, after looking at the above statement, 
if he doubts the fact, or can he inform the British and Irish 
landowners and farmers (as many may still be disposed to 



REMARKS OX THE PLAX SUBJECT. 



153 



think him a competent instructor) what caused the last 250 
stooks of Mr. Dobbin's Flax to be so much more valuable than 
the first 250 stooks ? Waiting his reply, and being anxious 
that he may have an opportunity of consulting Professor Sir 
R. Kane's most valuable work on the Industrial Resources of 
Ireland, as in that book he will find the information that may 
suit his purpose, before he writes another Appeal to the 
Common Sense of the Country: I shall leave him to ruminate 
on the above facts, an "lad: 1 , a fev.-moie oeeomet- of experiments 
to show how ignorant he is of what has been done, or what can 
be done by the farmers of Ulster, when he so broadly asserts 
that, i they have certainly not been makmg £20 or £2-5 an 
acre from any part of their farms.' 

u At a meeting, last month, of the Belfast Flax Improve- 
ment Society, when a discussion took place on the merits of 
the new system of steeping Flax in warm water to decompose 
the woody part on which the fibre is produced, or dissolve the 
adhesive matter that causes the fibre to cling to the wood, one 
of the members, Mr. Borthwick, said that he was thoroughly 
convinced of the excellence of the system. He had sold his 
crop of Flax-straw grown near Carrickfergus, pulled and 
dried, to the company at Cregagh, getting £12 per Irish 
acre for it, which paid him better than any of his other 
crops. He had since been told by the purchasers that 
they were offered £8 for the seed off an acre of this Flax; 
and he had himself seen some of the fibre which they had 
steeped, and which was of such good quality as to be 
valued by the spinners at 63s. per cwt., or £93 per ton. 
It was producing from the straw at the rate of about 
80 stones of 16 lbs. to the acre, which would be £23 worth 
of fibre, and adding £8 for the seed, the Irish acre would 
bring £36. He thought that was a conclusive proof of 
the benefit of the system. 

" A sample of Flax grown in 1849, by Messrs. M'Carton and 



154 



DICKSON'S REPLY TO PROFESSOR LOWE'S 



YVarringston, sent by Messrs. Dunbar, M'Master, and 
Dickson, of Gilford, who had bought it, was laid on the 
table, and the following extract of a letter from him was 
read to the meeting : — 

" ' I got 13s. per stone for what Flax I grew last year; 
one acre and a rood, Irish measure, produced me £32 10s. j 
I got the seed (Riga) from Messrs. J. Preston and Co. 
My average price since I began to grow Flax under the 
direction of your Society — say the last five years — has been 
24s. 5d. per stone.' 

■ ' It was stated by a member of the committee, that Mr. 
M' Carton's Flax had, one season, brought the high price 
of £150 per ton in Leeds, and was considered good value 
by the purchaser. 

" Having handed for insertion in your journal such 
statements from practical men, may I not now hope that 
those who read Professor Lowe's assertions respecting what 
has been done in Fiax-culture by Ulster farmers, will now 
conclude that his assertions respecting what the Dutch 
will undertake to do for us, are as groundless as his ideas 
of the value of the Flax-crop to the Ulster farmers. How- 
ever, as in another learned profession it is said, Ignoirantia 
non excusai legein, his ignorance of the subject will have no 
excuse for his assumption, nor will it prevent my pen from 
exposing his erroneous teaching, or lapsus linguce, as I shall 
strictly adhere to Lex talionis whenever attempts are made 
to impute to me any improper motives— whilst I fearlessly 
and openly advise landowners and farmers to encourage 
the more extended cultivation of Flax, and the introduc- 
tion of linen-manufactories in the south and west of Ireland, 
as such will be the true method and most profitable way 
of giving permanent employment to the people, for while they 
produce the raw material (Flax) in value of thousands sterling, 
if it be manufactured into linen goods for exportation it will, in 



REMARKS OX THE EL AX SUBJECT. 



155 



addition to giving employment to the working classes, bring 
back millions sterling. 

"Such production will operate against the interest of a 
party, who care little what may swamp the English as well 
as the Irish landowners and farmers in one mass of ruin, in 
hope of gain — I mean those engaged in cotton manufactures, 
and known as the Cotton Lords of Manchester; for 
who would wear a cotton shirt if fine linen comes lower 
in price (and a more extended cultivation of Flax would 
make it so), for now we can have four linen shirts for the 
price of six cotton ones, and the four linen shirts will out- 
wear the six cotton ones. Therefore, as the small farmers 
holding from twenty to forty acres of land in Ulster could 
formerly, and up to the peace of 1815, pay their years rent 
with the proceeds of from four to eight pieces of linen cloth, 
I cannot see why the same should not be encouraged by 
the landowners of Ireland in general, in opposition to the 
wear and export of an article we cannot produce (cotton), 
and for which our gold must be sent in millions before we are 
at all benefitted. I find, according to the statistics of the 
Linen Board in 1809, there were 76,749 acres sown in 
Flax, but Wakefield made the total 100,000 acres in that 
year, and valued it at £1,500,000. Drummond says that 
the acres sown in 1823 were 122,242, and that at "Wake- 
field's estimate, yielded a produce worth £1,833,000 
sterling. There was a considerable falling off from 1823 
up to 1829 and 1830, when the first Flax-spinning mills 
were started in Belfast, and from that time the Belgian 
system of managing the Flax crop has been gradually 
extending itself, and as such proof as that we have from 
Mr. Dobbin and others in this letter, must be enough to 
satisfy Professor Lowe, and also the old women on whose 
wisdom he placed so much stress, that we live now in the 
days of progress, and must move along with the tides that 



156 



DICKSON'S REPLY TO PROFESSOR LOWE'S 



carry us to new pursuits and experiments; and as no 
intelligent man who has opportunities of forming a judgment 
can have the least doubt but we could add three or four 
millions sterling to the capital of our country by Max- 
cultivation, without running the slightest risk of over- 
stocking the market, and not only double but treble it, if 
we manufactured it into linen goods for exportation, it is 
to be hoped that tKe landlord, the merchant and the farmer 
will all take up the question, as it affects them all, because 
it is a national question, and must, as a consequence, 
benefit the majority of the people. Hoping you will give 
space to these remarks, 

"I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 

"J. HILL DICKSON. 

" Palmerston Place, Dublin. 
March, 1850. 

' ' P.S. — After this, I hope Professor Lowe will not (like 
another professor, of hair-dressing notoriety, in Fenchurch 
Street, London) try to cut up Flax as close as Professor 

shaves ; for although the preparation of Flax is but 

imperfectly known in Cork, and Professor Lowe may 
imagine that the services of his old acquaintances (the 
old Scotch women) would be useful in the south of Ire- 
land, I must beg to inform him, that we have still some 
Irishmen more apt and sharp in practical undertakings than 
either the professor or his old or young women, and Mr. 
Dobbin's farming and Flax-growing, and his preparing of It, 
proves the fact/' 

" ELAX CULTURE.— MR, HILL DICKSON'S LETTER. 

"We have not seen the lectures of Professor Lowe, on 
which Mr. Dickson passes such severe strictures. We, how- 
ever, infer that the professor does not look upon the cultiva- 
tion of Flax as so very profitable a branch of agriculture, as 
some other more sanguine advocates of the more extended 



REMARKS ON THE FLAX SUBJECT. 



157 



cultivation of that plant. Independently altogether of the 
statements contained in the letter of Mr. Dickson, which we 
publish in another column, we judge very much of th e value 
of Flax to the farming classes of this country, by a reference 
to the prosperous state of Belfast, attributable chiefly to the 
employment given, in connection with the manufacture of 
linen. If the soil and climate of Ireland are as well, if not 
better, adapted to the growth of Flax, as those very countries 
from which such quantities are imported, why, we ask, do we 
not give this plant a place in our rotation ? The prices which 
Flax will realize per acre, are higher than the returns from 
other crops. If we are rightly informed, the average price is 
from £7 to £9 10s. per acre ; and in some cases, in favoured 
localities, some fetch £12 per acre. It should also be 
borne in mind, that these are the prices paid for Flax taken 
off the fields green, without any further trouble to the 
producer. Without entering therefore, at all, into the merits 
of the case as between Professor Lowe and Mr. Dickson, we 
are of opinion such prices are highly remunerative to the 
farmer. 

"As far as we can see our way in the matter, we have no 
hesitation in strongly recommending an extensive cultivation 
of Flax, as the respective capacities of the soil will make it 
profitable. We must still continue to look upon it as a 
matter of great hardship, that nearly six millions sterling 
a year, should be drained from this country for the purchase 
of Flax, oil-cake, and seed, whilst our own soil and climate are 
so well adapted for the growth of the article, and whilst the 
market lies so near our own door. 

" We recommend an attentive perusal of our correspondent's 
letter on this subject. The culture of Flax is every day 
assuming a more prominent position before the public mind. 
We need hardly repeat our great anxiety to see its cultivation 
extended in this locality." — Editor of the Tuam Herald, 



158 



DICKSON ON THE 



FLAX GROWING IN ENGLAND. 

As I have had the pleasure of visiting Mr. Druce, and 
walked over his superiorly cultivated farm, and could not but 
admire the beautifully cultivated fields of Flax, which was 
the object of my "visit to Oxfordshire; I have also equal 
pleasure in giving his account of the expense and profit in 
growing Flax on 5 A. 2r. 6 p. 

The Right Hon. Sir James Graham, in his speech on this 
subject in Cumberland, stated that we wanted the produce of 
200,000 acres for home consumption alone, and that our 
present growth in the United Kingdom did not exceed 
150,000 acres annually, and that he would have the plant 
extensively cultivated in the coming season. The right hon. 
gentleman mentioned the difficulties of finding a market 
for the Flax-straw, but this obstacle would be entirely 
removed by the adoption of my processes. The growers 
may, upon the formation of a company, receive the average 
rate or price of £4 per ton for their sound Flax-straw when 
deprived of the seed, roots, and weeds. 

Mr. Samuel Druce, of Ensham, stated to the council of 
the Royal Agricultural Society of England, on the 26th 
of February, 1851, the result of his experience in the 
growth of Flax in Oxfordshire, and particularly the result 
of his last year's crop, which he had drawn out for the 
information of the members, into a balance-sheet of expendi- 
ture in cultivation and realization by sale of produce ; he 
thought this statement would satisfactorily show to them 
the value of the Flax crop, and the attention which, under 
present circumstances, it appeared to deserve. His property 
lay on the Oxford clay formation, and the piece of ground on 
which the trial of cultivation, to which[he referred, was made, 



PROFITS OF FLAX-CULTURE IN ENGLAND. 



159 



consisted of a deep red loam, and in extent was 5a. 2r. Bp. 



£ s. d. 

Rent of land at 48s. per acre 13 14 

Taxes, at 6s. per acre 114 4 

Flax-seed, 18| bushels, at 9s 6 I 6 



One ploughing, at 10s. per acre .... 217 3 

Sowing and harrowing, at Is. 6d. do. 8 

Weeding, at 2s. per acre Oil 5 

Pulling Flax, at 14s. per acre ..... 4 1 

Carting and stacking, at 4& per acre I 2 10 

Thrashing 5 7 1 

Winnowing 12 6 



£36 9 



SALE OF PRODUCE. 

£ S. d. 

Sale of Flax-seed, 116 J bushels at 8s 46 10 

Sale of Flax-straw, 12 tons, 2 cwt. 2 qrs., 

at £3 per ton 36 7 6 

Sale of Chaff, at 5s. per acre. . 1 8 7 

£84 6 1 



Leaving a nett profit of £47 17s. Id. on the 5 A. 2r. 6p., or 
a trifle more than 5| acres of land employed in this trial of 
Flax- cultivation ; and Mr. Druce concludes by expressing his 
conviction that Flax is not at all an exhausting crop. 

Here then, is the expressed opinion of a gentleman, one 
of the most extensive and practical agriculturists in England ; 
let those theorists who write books like Mr. Stephens and 
make speeches like Professor Lowe look at this, and confess 



160 



DICKSON ON THE 



that they have everything to learn on the Flax question, and 
that to study for a season under Professor Drace at Enskam, 
would greatly benefit them. 

November, 1864. — Having written to Mr. Druce a few 
weeks ago to inform him of my new invention for cottonizing 
Flax, I had the satisfaction to know he still continues to grow 
the crop largely, although his method of preparing the fibre for 
market is still very imperfect and expensive, however, I shall 
select him as one of the first to have one of my latest improved 
machines, in order to open up fresh ground by the introduction 
of a better and more profitable mode of working, with a view 
to avoid by early attention the awful consequences predicted 
(from the "Flax movement in Ireland,") by the assumed 
knowledge and warning on the part of the Editor of the 
Standard newspaper, — I hope to show him as I did the 
Editor of the Mark Lane Express, some years ago, that he 
has touched on a subject that he requires to know more of 
before he writes again, like Professor Lowe, on its condem- 
nation. 



FLAX MOVEMENT IN IRELAND. 



161 



THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON STANDARD, v. THE 
INCREASE OF FLAX-CULTURE IN IRELAND. 

Without going to Ulster farmers or Flax-growers to prove 
that the statements of the Standard are not to be relied on, 
as they have no foundation, in fact, I think the profits so 
clearly brought out by Mr. Druce on the cultivation of 
5A. 2r. 6p. of land with Flax, by selling his Flax-straw at 
the low price of £3 per ton, which shows that £47 17s. Id. 
was realized, proves error No. 1. on the part of the Standard; 
but suppose Mr. Druce had scutched his 12 tons of Flax- straw, 
his produce should have been, taking the average yield of If 

tons of fibre, say at £70 per ton £105 

Deduct scutching, carting, etc. ... £18 

and the 12 tons straw 36 7 6 

;. -• •; ;• 54 i 6 

Balance £50 12 6 
By this mode of going to work, as Ulster farmers do, 
Mr, Druce would have had £98 9s. 7d. clear profit by making 
his Flax-straw into fibre for the spinner ; and this profit on 
five acres the Standard thinks should not be encouraged, 
especially in Ireland. As this is close on £20 per acre profit, 
the facts speak for themselves ; seeing that Mr. Druce sold 
£46 worth of seed, and the cost of produce was only £36, 
including rent of land at £2 4s. per acre,^-rather a smart 
rent. 

It seems strange that any man possessing a knowledge of, 
and having the great privilege to write on Irish affairs in a 
leading journal such as the Standard, should commit so great 
a blunder as to write so discouragingly on a subject which so 
deeply concerns the south and western provinces of Ireland, 
when it is universally known that the cultivation of Flax and 
the increase of the linen trade in Ulster have been the chief 

L 



162 



DICKSON ON THE 



causes of the prosperity of the province, compared with the 
other three provinces. One would suppose the writer to be a 
partner in Barclay's firm, or in the London Brewery Company, 
whose great demand for barley makes them delight in seeing 
so fine a harvest as this of 1864 has been. The currier 
thought nothing was like leather; but the writer in the 
Standard seems to think that nothing is like barley. Wherever 
good Flax can be grown, prime malting barley can be pro- 
duced ; but as newspaper writers are not infallible teachers, I 
leave the profits on Flax-culture to be confirmed by such 
practical gentlemen farmers as Mr. Druce, who would not lend 
themselves to the " fabulous" statements supposed by the 
writer in the Standard. 

Error No. 2 of the annonymous writer is this : — " The crop 
was once extensively grown, but has ceased to be cultivated, 
because it was found to be no longer remunerative." I chal- 
lenge him to prove this to have been the case in Ulster since 
the first mill was built in Belfast, in 1829, by Messrs. T. and 
A. Mulholland. There was a falling off in Flax-culture and 
in the linen trade of Ireland, from the peace in 1815, as from 
that time the Leeds Flax Mills sprang up, and spun nothing 
but the best Dutch and Flemish Flax, and the linen trade 
gradually decayed, but the Messrs. Mulholland put a stop to 
that by their spirited enterprise, and they and their partners, 
Hind, Herd man and Co., deserve the credit of having saved 
the linen trade as the staple of the counfoy. As to the cause 
of the diminution of Flax-culture from 1851 to 1858, it is 
evident the writer is perfectly ignorant. The Russian war 
caused such a rise on grain crops that fanners turned to grain 
in place of Flax ; but the wet seasons in Ireland were tlie 
chief cause, for the price was a% low last year as ever I recollect 
it for the last forty years, and I have been all that time 
interested and connected with the Flax trade as a mill-owner 
and agent. 



FLAX MOVEMENT IN IRELAND. 



163 



Error No. 3, where he says — "The linen trade of Ulster 
cannot be largely increased because the produce of its looms 
is only suitable for the wealthy/' and that "It is not likely 
the fine linen trade, the only branch now possible to be 
carried on with success, can ever acquire such extension as 
would force the manufacturers to seek supplies of the raw 
material beyond the limits of the province in which it is 
established/' Any man who has looked at our importation of 
foreign Flax, which increases yearly, without going back to 
the money the Belfast Flax Society spent for years to force the 
south and western provinces to increase Flax for their use, must 
laugh at the absurd and truly ridiculous remarks of the 
writer, who will be treated as non compos mentis by 
every grower, spinner, manufacturer, and bleacher of linen 
cloth in Ireland, as it is well known Jthat in 1848, when the 
average -of five years' importation of foreign Flax was 68,879 
tons, Mr. Mulholland of Belfast told the farmers at the Belfast 
Flax Society's annual dinner, that of the £50,000 which he 
annually sent out of the country for Flax, he would not have 
occasion to send that year £40 from home for a supply, 
although it was higher in price then, than it is now. 

In the face of such authority as Mr. Mulholland, the largest 
consumer of Flax in Europe, the father of the trade, 
may I not ask (when the writer talks of the supply being 
limited to the province in which it is established), what could 
possess him to write such nonsense, and in the face of the 
market reports of Flax and linen weekly ? I am at a loss to 
conceive ; but as such dictation might injure a cause that pro- 
mises such success, now that the southern and western owners 
of property are determined not to depend alone on government 
aid or promises made to deputations that all end in smoke, 
I, as a practical maker of linen cloth, ask those who have 
read the Standard's remarks, to turn to my tables of instruc- 
tions at pages 78 to 80 in this work, and judge for themselves : 



164 



DICKSON ON THE 



when they compare the cost price of a 16 00 linen at lid. per 
yard by the old Irish system, and a 16 00 linen by my system 
from, bleached Flax at 9d. per yard, let such goods be compared 
with cotton cloth at the same price, and any person of ordinary 
intellect will pronounce the linen flve-and-twenty per cent more 
valuable in appearance as well as strength. 

Added to the above advantages, the material will be found 
fine enough for any gentleman in the land, and the best 
cloth (or set, as it is called by the trade) for shirts. As 
the writer concludes by connecting the establishment to which 
lie belongs with his denunciations, when he says, 1 1 We would 
not be understood as discouraging the growth of Flax within 
such limits as may render the speculation remunerative," I 
tell him Flax-culture is no speculation, no more than wheat, 
and I tell him more, the Irish farmers do not require to be 
told by him what they want, because they all know by his 
remarks he is, to all intents and purposes, as incompetent 
to give any advice on the subject, as he has shown himself 
totally ignorant of the history of the trade, and as I have 
now before me an article from the Standard in 1850, I 
intend, with such^ proof in my hands, to let the writer 
see, and also feel, that if it was fair to call a leading 
journal by the name of the City Barometer, when the 
editor tried to turn the country against the great and 
now successful gathering of the Royal Agricultural Society of 
England, whose rewards have made farming, through the use 
-of machinery, as much an art as the weaving of a piece of 
velvet, that the Standard's articles now before me entitles it 
to be called City Barometer No. 2. 

In the building of any of our great national institutions, 
such as the Houses of Parliament, the British Museum, and 
such like undertakings, a prudent builder takes care to have 
the best stone, timber, and iron at hand, as an argument 
that from such material his work may stand the test of time 



ELAX MOVEMENT IN IRELAND. 



165 



and the thunders of the press, and as I benefit in my, 
Flax movements by having always at hand similar evi- 
dence that the march of progress supports my views,, 
it is with satisfaction and no small degree of delight, 
I place before the reader the very large increase in the 
export of our linen yarns and linen manufactures over that 
of the nine months ending September 30th, 1863,— 
£2,082,182 — and as two-thirds of the exports must have 
left Ireland, a country that has no woollen, silk, or 
cotton manufactures, coal or iron to export, is it 
fair, when one looks at the exports, to find the press lend 
itself in opposition to Irish landowners, to the cotton trade 
of Lancashire, and also in opposition to the only article 
of manufacture Ireland enjoys, and to try by false doctrine, 
to prevent Irish landowners to increase the only article that 
can elevate their country, by exportation; but as I have 
a word in store for the Standard, from the doctrine 
of Swift, which he once called on the people of Ireland, 
to attend to, as one of the 4 * greatest and wisest men 
and truest patriots known to modern history," I bide 
my time, and call the reader's attention to the following 
statement, as regards the success of the linen trade of 
the country as a rival of cotton goods, for home or export 
purposes. 

BRITISH EXPORTS, 

"The aggregate value of British produce and manu- 
factures shipped from the United Kingdom to foreign 
and colonial ports, in the nine months ended 30th of 
September of the present year, amounted in round numbers 
to 123 \ millions sterling; compared with the returns 
for the same period in 1863, such sum exhibits an increase 
of more than nineteen millions, and with those for the 
first nine months in 1862 of almost thirty millions. Of 



166 



DICKSON ON THE 



the twenty-five principal headings which constitute results 
of such wonderful magnitude, not more than three show 
decreases worthy of notice, and these are apparel and 
slops, £134,792 ; arms, ammunition, &c, £452,148 ; copper 
and brass, £394,858. Taken altogether the fallings-off do 
not reach a million, while the increase exceeds twenty 
millions. 

" Cotton manufactures and cotton yarn contribute towards 
that increasement a little more than a moiety ; linen manu- 
factures and linen yam upwards of two millions; woollen 
manufactures and woollen yarn as much as four-and-a- 
half millions. The commodities which have helped most 
largely to make up the remaining three-and-a-half millions 
are : Coals, to the extent of | £332,337 ; haberdashery, 
£662,271; hardwares and cutlery, £411,874; machinery, 
£332,450; iron and steel goods, £717,194; and oil-seed, 
£200,210. In the subjoined table the values of all the 
most prominent articles of British produce and manufacture 
exported in the nine months ended September 30th of the 
past and present years, together with their respective increases 
or decreases, are particularised 



FLAX MOVEMENT IN IRELAND, 



167 



NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 80tH„ 





1863. 


1864, 


Increase. 


Decrease. 


Alkali, Soda 


£666,393 


' £685,914 


£19,521 




Apparel and Slops 


1,935,433 


1,800,641 


— 


£134,792 


Arms, Ammunition, &c. 


1,189,890 


737,742 




452,148 


Beer and Ale 


1,283,112 


1,213,346 


_ 


1,766 


Coals . 


2,767,875 


3,100,212 


332,337 




Cotton yarn . 


5,463,251 


7,277,892 


1,814,641 


— ■ ■ 


Cotton manufactures 


27,192,014 


35,647,480 


8,455,466 




Earthenware, &c. . 


983,048 


1,062,054 


79,006 




Glass of all kinds . 


554,643 


558,094 


3,451 




Haberdashery, &c . 


3,131,136 


3,793,407 


662,271 




Hardwares and cutlery . 


2,669,495 


3,081,369 


411,874 


— 


Leather manufactures 


1,360,926 


1,475,700 


114,774 




Linen yarn . , 


1,773,682 


2,386,849 


613,167 


— 


Linen manufactures 


4,554,203 


6,123,218 


1,469,015 


— 


Machinery . 


3,030,603 


3,363,053 


332,450 


— 


Iron and. steel 


9,676,206 


10,933,400 


717,194 


— . 


Copper and brass , 


3,071,939 


2,677,081 


— 


394,858 


Lead . 


608,822 


605,102 


— 


3,720 


-Lin • • * . 


361,745 


Q*?n nee 

o7y,yDo 


18,221 




Tin plates 


973,897 


1,033,133 


59,236 




Oil seed 


716,214 


916,424 


200,210 




Silk manufactures . 


1,088,468 


1,156,593 


68,125 




Woollen yarn . . 


3,702,226 


4,213,834 


511,608 




Woollen manufactures . 


10,973,219 


14,914,744 


4,041,525 




All other articles . 


14,564,273 


14,736,913 


172,640 




Totals . 


£104,294,713 


123,404,161 


20,096,732 


987,284 



987,284 

Increase in 1864 £19,109,448 

Having left unnoticed the Standard* s views on the 
saving of Flax-seed, and 6 Max as the most impoverishing 
crop sown/ I refer the reader to Sir Eobert Kane's practical 
experiments, as noticed in this work, to upset such theoretical 
assertions, and I must beg the reader's attention to the returns 
that I have procured, to show the progress of Flax this year, 
1864, over that of last, a matter that must please every 
man who wishes to see Ireland prosper. 



168 



DICKSON ON. THE 



AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS, IRELAND, 1864. 
"Beturn showing, in statute acres, the extent under 
Flax in each county in 1863 and 1864, compiled from 
returns obtained by the constabulary and metropolitan 
police, who act as enumerators : — 



Counties and Provinces. 



Ulster. 

Antrim - - - 

Armagh - - - 

Cavan - - - - 

Donegal - - - 

Down - - - - 

Fermanagh - - 

Londonderry - - 

Monaghan- - - 

Tyrone - - - - 



Extent of 1 and 
under Elax. 



1863 



Total of Ulster - 

Clare - - - - 

Cork - - - - 
Kerry - - 

Limerick - - - 
Tipperary - 

Waterford - - - 



Total of Minister 

Leinsteb. 
Carlow - - - 
Dublin - - - 
Kildare - - - 
Kilkenny - - - 
King's County - ■ 
Longford - - - 
Louth - ------ 

Meath - - - - 

Queen's County - 
Westmeath 
Wexford - - ~\ 
Wicklow - 



Total of Leinster 

CoNNAUGHT. 



Galway 
Leitrim 
Mayo - 
Roscommon 
Sligo - - 



Total of Connaught 



Acres. 
21576 
24001 
10260 
24132 
44963 
4482 
25872 
20054 
32007 



207347 

586 
663 
378 
190 
327 
38 



2182 

12 
1 

7 
50 
335 
406 
702 
325 
63 
159 
34 
4 



2098 

300 
887 
696 
330 
259 



1864 


Increase. 


decrease. 


Acres. 


Acres. 


Acres. . 


34847 


13271 




31673 


7672 




15924 


5664 




29645 


5513 




59137 


14174 




7494 


3012 




32734 


6862 




25486 


5432 




41314 


9307 





278254 

1412 
2039 
1236 

773 
1003 

257 



7620 



81 
31 
19 
270 
786 
1704 
2541 
882 
268 
595 
200 
6 



7383 

1537 

2226 
2086 
1590 
1246 



868* 



Difference between 
1863 and 1864. 



70907 acres 
Increase in 1864. 



826 
2276 
858 
583 
676 
219 



5,438 acres 
Increase in 1864. 



69 
30 
12 
220 
451 
1298 
1839 
557 
205 
436 
166 
2 



52,85 acres - 
Increase in 1864. 

1027 — 
1339 — 

1390 , — 

1260 | — 

- 987 1 — " 



6,218 acres 
Increase in 1864. 



FLAX MOVEMENT IN IRELAND. 



169 



w Total acreage under Flax in Ireland in 1863 and 1864 — . 

1863, 214,099 acres ; 1864, 301,942 acres. Total increase in 

1864, 87,843 acres. 

" Extent of Flax grown in Ireland in each of the fol 
lowing years:— 1851, 140,536 acres; 1852, 137,008 acres; 
1853, 174,579 acres; 1854, 151,403 acres; 1855, 97,075 
acres; 1856, 106,311; 1857, 97,721; 1858, 91,646 acres;. 
1859, 136,282 acres; 1860, 128 ; 595 acres; 1861, 147,957 

acres; 1862, 150,070 acres; 1863, 214,099 acres; 1864,- 

301,942 acres. 

(c The foregoing return, which exhibits an increase of the. 
area under Flax in every county, is published, as in previous, 
years, in anticipation of the general abstracts, which will 
show the acreage under the various crops, and the number^ 
of live stock, by counties and provinces. They will, I trust, 
be ready for publication in the course of the ensuing month, 
I do not apprehend that any difference of importance will be. 
found between the acreage under Flax here given and that 
which will appear in the detailed tables of the general, 
abstracts now in course of compilation. 

({ Wm Donelly, Eegistrar-General, 
Agricultural and Emigration Statistics Office, 
" 5, Henrietta, Street, Dublin, 8th August, 1864." 

- "Armagh Flax and Linen Markets .— There was a 
good supply of new Flax at market on Tuesday — say about 
three tons; but with the exception of two or three small 
lots, the quality was inferior. Still the price was well 
maintained, mill-scutched ranging from 7s. 6d. to 10s. per 
stone, and hand-scutched from 7s. to 7s. 9d. The supply of 
old was estimated at fifteen tons, and the buying was active,- 
mill-scutched realizing from 8s. to 8s. 9d. per stone, and 
hand-scutched 7s. to 7s. 9d. The linen market was an- 
average as to quantity, but there were fewer buyers than on 
that day week, and they acted cautiously, anxious for a- 



170 



DICKSON ON THE 



reduction of rates, to which holders refused to submit.' 

As there is a total increase of 87,843 acres of Flax 
this year over that of last, and the prices are Is. per stone 
higher than last year for hand-scutched Flax, as it sold at 
5s. 9d. the year round ; why should the Standard advise and 
discourage the owners of Irish property, especially those who 
are living in London, who may, being absentees believe in its 
warning voice, that the demand must end even before the war 
in America, (which has caused cotton to get up to such an 
exhorbitant price as that of 2s. to 2s. 8d. per lb., in place of 
6d. to 8d.), has any appearance of being brought to an end. 
The delusion and want of knowledge on the part of the writer, 
respecting the increased demand for Irish linen cloth for 
the last three years, and also the increased demand for 
Dundee linens, even the coarse article of manufacture which 
has so increased the wealth of spinners and manufacturers, 
must only account for such stupid denunciations of the Flax 
movement in Ireland, a movement made by the people in 
the provinces of Munster, Leinster, and Connaught, which 
has caused them to grow 16,936 acres this year, in place of 
growing, as they did last year, 6,752 acres. The writer has 
been blind to the fact, that want of mills in these provinces 
caused the farmers to regret the growing of Flax, and no 
man would speculate in building mills, or go to the expense 
of erecting machinery, until there was a certainty of a 
supply of Flax to employ their mills and machinery, but 
now they have been stirred up by the fact of the linen trade 
of Ulster coming more and more into competition again 
with cotton, and hearing of the continued prosperity of 
Ulster farmers by growing Flax, which even at the low 
price of 5d. to 6d. per lb. has paid them better than a crop 
of oats. As the best Flax has been latterly produced after 
a crop of .wheat or barley, they have ventured to treble 
their former growing, and now that there really is a stock 



FLAX MOVEMENT IN IRELAND. 



171 



of Flax to work up, mills are m course of building, and 
machinery will be erected, and as a consequence, those who 
have built the mills must encourage the farmers to continue 
the good work of producing what will pay them, and give 
employment to the working classes in the winter season, 
when out-door work cannot be done ; under such circum- 
stances, is it not a crime on the part of any influential 
journal to try by all the force of argument, without the 
shadow of foundation in justice or truth to support such 
opinions, to send forth such a warning as the Standard has 
issued, as if it were the only guardian angel of Ireland, and 
saying " that we depreciate its too universal production before 
the demand for it is based on a solid foundation." Every man 
that looks back at the returns must see, that the writer might 
just as well tell the fishermen on the coast not to catch any 
more fish, as he deprecated the production until he ascertained 
the demand. 

Before I finish, and as I look back to the writer's 
assertion of ' 'fabulous profits," and the Flax crop, 44 ceased 
to be cultivated because it was found to be no longer 
remunerative/' I have cut out from the Armagh Guardian 
the following : — 

" Large Produce of Flax. — Mr. George Hobson, of 
Ballyhagan, in this county, sold to Mr. Micheal Eeilly, in our 
market on Tuesday last, the produce of six bushels of Flax- 
seed, grown on three English acres, thirty-five stones to each 
bushel, at 10s. 4Jd. per stone. The seed was bought from 
Mr. Jacob Halliday, Belfast, and the Flax scutched at Mr. 
John Walker Redmond's mill. The produce of the three 
acres realized above one hundred guineas." 

If the above be not sufficient to prove that my argument 
in upsetting the writer's remarks, and that what I say, " is 
based on a solid foundation," I must leave the reader to 
form his own judgment. 



172 



DICKSON ON- THE FIBRES OF IFDIA, 



Having finished my arguments on Irish Flax as a substitute-, 
for cotton-spinner's purposes, I must solicit the reader to; 
peruse the following, as it will be satisfactory to see that one; 
of England^ most successful merchants, the late Sir W. Brown,, 
Bart., Liverpool^ so countenanced my movements, as to givej 
me liberty of referring to him. 

ADVANTAGES TO BE GAINED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF 
RHEEA FIBRE, FLAX AND HEMP AS ADDITIONAL MATERIAL, 
ADAPTED TO COTTON-SPINNING MACHINERY. 

Having proved my ability to make not only Eheea fibre, \ 
but any other flexible fibre, soft, fine, and short enough to be 
spun on cotton machinery, and through the aid of the firm of 
Messrs. Birley, Brothers, cotton spinners, Preston, proved that 
such yarn can be spun from my prepared fibres, I shall briefly' 
point out and call attention to the importance of such material 
at this crisis, and the two-fold advantage of such being" 
introduced into the cotton spinning and manufacturing mills' 
of Lancashire, a matter thoroughly national. 

First, the economy in cost of the material compared with ' 
cotton, and seeing from my calculation that Eheea and such" 
fibres as I have prepared are not at all likely to average more 
than from 5|d. to 8d..per lb., I reckon the material such as" 
the No. 20 yams spun from as follows : — 

Suppose 2-3 or 10lb. of Eheea fibre cost 5d. per lb. 4 2 
Bo. 1-3 or 51b. of Surat cotton cost 1M per lb. 6 3. 

Total 15lbs., mixed in carding, average 8|d. per lb. 10 5 

By such mixture 6|d. per lb. would be the saving by using 
Eheea, and a stronger article produced ; but suppose it all 
Eheea, at od or cost 6s. 3d., the saving would be lOd. per lb., 
and better warp yarn for heavy cloth, as it will bear the strain 
necessary for the .weft being driven up tightly. 

Secondly, and the most important, is the unquestionable 



RI1EEA, FLAX, AND HEMP, IN 2LACE OF COTT ON. 173 



certainty of a supply in Europe and our colon ies, inde- 
pendent of America, as with our supply of cotton from 
India, Egypt, &c, &c, we could keep our spindles and 
looms at work, by the introduction of my prepared fibres 
into sheeting, shirtings, &c, if we never imported a bale of 
-American cotton ; and as thousands of tons of the material 
can be had in from one to three months to give employment 
to the praiseworthy but distressed operatives, who no doubt 
would sooner work for half the former wages, at this moment, 
than become degraded by having their names enrolled on the 
lists of mendicants, the question is, is not this the time to 
try and revolutionize the manufactures of Lancashire, and 
by such additional material crush the supremacy of cotton as an 
only article to depend on. I have the opinion of one of the 
moist extensive merchants in Liverpool, Mr. W. Brown (after 
seeing my specimens), in favour of such views, and liberty 
to refer to that eminent gentleman on my calling and 
explaining my mission to Liverpool. 

The late Sir William Brown's note of invitation to call 
on him was before I had my material spun on cotton 
machinery, and he told me he had just heard, that cotton 
spinners in the United States of America had been trying 
with success to spin the wild Max of the prairies on their 
cotton machinery, and added, if I succeeded in having my 
prepared Rheea, Flax, and Hemp, and such fibres as -I 
showed him spun on cotton machinery, I should lay a founda- 
tion by the introduction of such material which must revolu- 
tionize the trade of Lancashire, and as such were his views, 
I might make use of his name and expressed opinion on 
the subject, if it would be of any service in the object 
I had in view of forming a company, as owing to his advanced 
age and being retired from business, he could not do more 
than answer letters, which he would be happy to do in my 
' favour, and on parting wished me success. On my return 



174 DICKSON ON THE FIBRES OF INDIA, IN PLACE 



to town I sent his (the late Sir W. Brown's) letter to Earl 
Russell, and I have now written to have it returned, as he sent 
it to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. 

Being invited by the firm of Messrs. Birley, Brothers, 
cotton spinners, in Preston, who are also Flax spinners in 
Kirkham (for whom I was agent in Belfast for many years, 
up to my leaving in 1842 for London), to have my material 
tried at their works, and having spent nearly three months 
in that quarter, I at last saw my way to success in their 
mills, and also in the mills of Mr. W. Paley, where I had 
French Hemp and Flax from green unretted straw into a 
sliver, as perfect as any cotton could be made, and as I 
had a considerable quantity of Rheea spun by the Messrs. 
Birley, I left for Liverpool in October, and the following 
week had 100 spools of yarn sent me, with the letter as 
follows : — 

' c Hanover Street Cotton Mills, 
"Preston, Nov. 4th, 1862. 
1 '.Dear Sie, — W e duly received your letter this morning ; 
no one being at the mills to-day, we merely send you the 
yarn we have spun as requested. There are two bundles, 
the one contains yarn made from half cotton, half Rheea, 
the other from two-thirds cotton, one-third Rheea. The 
Rheea was much heavier than cotton, we make the counts 
Nos. 15 and 12J. 

"We remain, yours truly, 

"BIRLEY BROTHERS. 

" Mr. J. H. Dickson, 

" Commercial Hotel, Liverpool." 

The above-mentioned yarns I had woven in Yorkshire, 
and cloth samples sent on to Sir C. Wood — {see letter from 
the India Office, page 22)— I also sent cloth samples to 
Mr. Gladstone, with a letter to show such cloth would absorb 



OE COTTON, FOR CLOTHING THE INDIAN ARMY, 1 75 



perspiration, and giving such facts as to cost of production as 
must have convinced any man but the Chancellor of the 
Exchequer, especially a manufacturer, that if drill cloth 
were made from half Rheea at 8d. per lb., and half Surat 
cotton, at 16d. per lb., and a contract offered in Lanca- 
shire for clothing the British army in India, not only 
would there be a great saving in the first instance, but there 
could not be a second opinion as to the extra strength of the 
material, and in addition to that saving, a contract being 
offered and accepted, the new material would have been 
forced into the market in opposition to cotton , just as jute got 
forced into the trade in Dundee in opposition to Flax, and 
(just as the late Sir W. Brown told me) the foundation 
of what would start a revolution in the trade of Lancashire 
would have been accomplished. However, it appears to 
me, by the cool reply from Mr. Charles L. Ryan, 11, 
Downing Street, who -writes, "I am desired by the Chan- 
cellor of the Exchequer to say, that the subject to which it 
refers is a matter not within his province," that Mr. Glad- 
stone is not unlike his great trumpeter, the editor of the 
Times, in whose pages we frequently find advertisements for 
servants, but that " No Irish need apply." I can only 
account for my samples being returned unopened by Mr. 
Gladstone knowing right well that I am thoroughly 
Irish, and so thoroughly practical on the subject of 
SPINNING and manufacturing, that if he entered into the 
subject, I must have come in for a share of the credit, as being 
the first to discover a cheaper article than cotton for clothing 
the Indian army, and that he would be obliged to admit that 
he had assistance from an Irishman 5 which he could not obtain 
from any of the talented brothers'' in office, not forgetting the 
President of the Board of Trade ; however, as my letter to 
Mr. Gladstone (if it is not in the waste paper basket) informs 
him that the great Irish general, the hero of one hundred 



176 



DICKSON ON THE 



.fights, the late Duke of Wellington, discarded linen drill, 
then called Kussian duck, because it held the perspiration 
when absorbed by that material, I took care to explain 
to Mr. Gladstone the cause of that objection, and that the dry 
resin-bound fibres of India were of a different nature to Flax, 
and that it would not retain perspiration, but allowed it to 
evaporate as cloth did ; and to this I added that the thousands 
in Lancashire that are still suffering from want of employ- 
ment, would be relieved if Rheea fibre were introduced. 
But the ideas of practical men are never used by our rulers 
until the last moment,— they are like the auctioneer's hammer, 
only used when the last bid, or offer^ keeps the holder in pos- 
session of the great mart, — where the eloquence of one is only 
heard, and forgetting that by late teaching, buy in the cheapest 
and sell in the dearest market, my suggestion arose, my offer 
of cheap clothing for the army serving in India, remains to be 
brought forward next session. 

I have made several trials of Newzealand Flax ( Phormium 
Tenax ), but until lately I could not get rid of the hard, gritty 
substa?ice that covers the fibre, but having got a large bale 
from Messrs. Gibbs, Bright & Co., Liverpool, that had been 
taken green from the soil, and by a new liquid that I am now 
using, I get rid of the gritty or resin matter, the article which 
can be had in Newzealand at £10 per ton, and brought to 
London or Liverpool for £5 per ton, must become of vast 
importance to the manufacturers of this country. I have it 
cottonized, and offers for it at 6cl. per lb. from first class 
cotton spinning firms in the North. 



NEW MODE OF PREPARING FLAX. 



177 



LETTER X. 

THE MARK LANE EXPBESS v. DICKSON'S PATENT 
MACHINES AND LIQUID. 

FOR CONVERTING GREEN FLAX FIBRE FROM UNRETTED FLAX-STRAW 
INTO A PURELY WHITE MARKETABLE ARTICLE, IN FIVE HOURS, 

To the Editor of the " Banner of Ulster." 

" Dear Sir, — Having had the pleasure, in the early part 
of last month, of submitting for your inspection some 
specimens of Flax, hemp, China grass, and various descrip- 
tions of Indian fibre, which were prepared by my patent 
machines and patent liquid, I shall feel obliged (as the editor 
of the above-named journal has thrown doubts on my asser- 
tions as to the advantages likely to be gained by my system) 
if you will insert the following in your journal in answer 
to him, and in order that he may know that I am not 
afraid of submitting my views for discussion, if necessary, 
through the public press of Ulster, the head-quarters of the 
Flax and linen trade of Ireland. 

"In an influential journal, the Armagh Guardian, a paper 
published in a city that has ever been famed for its linen, 
and also for its standing at the head of the Flax trade in 
Ireland, as the quantity sold in Armagh every week far 
exceeds that of any other market in the kingdom, I observe 
an article copied from the Mark Lane Express, and on perusal 
I find that the editor has commented, at considerable length, 
on the subject of Flax-culture in England, the national 
advantages likely to accrue therefrom, and the importation 
of Indian fibre in lieu of Russian Flax and hemp ; and as 
he has, no doubt, taken extracts from an advertisement of 
mine that appeared in your paper, the Manchester Guardian, 
and the "Leeds Intelligencer, by admitting the possibility of 
machines being so made as to prepare the fibre without 
M 



178 



DICKSON ON THE 



being retted, but in his wisdom he doubts the practicability 
of making any further advance, and concludes by remarking 
that, 'for fine linen or cambric purposes, we must still 
adhere to the old method of decomposition by steeping, or 
as it is termed, retting,' and adds that, c I may be like 
other inventors, too sanguine in my ability to perform what 
I propose.'* I now confidently hope that such views, so 
freely expressed, but in entire ignorance of my system, 
will not prevent the leading journals of Great Britain and 
Ireland from ascertaining and reporting on the absolute 
facts ; for, as it is now well known that we are at a loss 
for paper material, and a reference to the Leeds Mercury 
and the Times of the 21st instant will convince even the 
most sceptical of our want of fibres for spinning purposes, 
I confidently anticipate that the powerful assistance of the 
press will not be solicited in vain, when it is known we 
can produce in Great Britain and Ireland, and import 
from our Indian possessions an abundance of fibre^ superior 
in strength and fineness to Russian Flax or hemp, and 
consequently adapted for all kinds of spinning purposes, 
thus leaving Russia to find another market for her hemp 
and Flax than England. 

u In the first place, I must respectfully inform the editor 
of the Mark Lane Express that the Flax subject, whether 
it be on its cultivation, selection, spinning or weaving, I am, 
after twenty- five years' practical knowledge, tolerably well 
acquainted with, and having reduced my theory to practice, 
I am able to supersede the difficulty, the besetting sin of all 
inventors, which he thinks applicable to my patent as well 
as to others, and in oider that he, conjointly with others 
of your readers, may know the cause of my success, I 

* The editors of the Morning Herald and BelVs Messenger can inform the 
Mark Lane Express editor as to my ability to perform what I propose, as both 
gentlemen saw my several machines at work. 



NEW MODE OF PREPARING ELAX. 



179 



must beg their careful attention to the following incontro- 
vertible facts. 

u After a close connection of five years with two extensive 
establishments — a distillery and brewery — in the north of 
Ireland, from 1824 to 1829, I presume it will be granted 
that, during that period, I had formed a pretty correct 
idea of fermentation, its causes and effects ; and having of 
late heard so much about the necessity of fermenting Flax- 
straw by retting, steeping in cold or hot water, or in other- 
words, rotting it, in order so to decompose the wood on which 
the fibre is produced that it will break easily, and with 
equal facility be beaten or scutched out of the fibre 
surrounding it, it struck me very forcibly that by such 
process, a very large portion of the finer filaments of the 
fibre must be lost by decomposition, and that it was possible 
to invent and bring into use a machine that would separate 
the green unretted fibre from the wood, without cutting 
or otherwise injuring it, and that the result would be a 
great saving of fibre. Now, in this I have been successful 
beyond all question, inasmuch as I can produce 5lbs. of 
fibre out of 14lbs. of green Flax-straw, whilst the result 
of the very best experiments reported by the Belfast 
Flax Society in their annual transactions, cannot show 
more than 2lbs. of fibre out of 14lbs. of retted straw, 
and as the Messrs. Marshall, of Leeds and Tatrington, 
say that it takes 12cwt. of green straw to make 9cwt. 
when retted, it is evident that I have one-fourth less straw 
for the 5lbs. of green fibre, than those experiments which 
only show 2lbs. out of I4lbs. of retted straw. There 
is only one instance on record of 2 Jibs, being taken from 
14lbs. of retted straw in Ireland. 

" Having explained the manner in which I am enabled 
to produce double the weight of green fibre, compared with 
that produced by any other method yet known, I shall now 



180 



DICKSON ON THE 



give my reasons for asserting that the editor of the Mark 
Lane Express is in error when he states that, 'for fine 
linen or cambric, we must fall back on the system of retting ;' 
and as, by my next process, I am prepared to prove that 
by the specimens acted upon, hand-scutched Flax, had 
from the Messrs. Richardson, Brothers and Co., of Belfast, 
and mill-scutched Flax, grown and scutched upon my old 
property in Ballymoran, near Armagh, now in the possession 
of George ' Henry, Esq., are worth more than double their 
cost or value when I got them the other week, I shall have 
much pleasure in submitting them to judges for their united 
inspection whenever called on. 

"My first object is to discharge from the fibre the natural 
green substances which the plant draws from the soil by 
water, &c, aided by machinery ; and as I use neither soda, 
barilla, sulphuric acid, chloride of lime, nor any other 
bleaching stuffs or liquid now in general use, but depend 
entirely on the products of our own soil, as vegetable 
matters are my chief ingredients, I produce an uninjured 
and purely white fibre ; arid consequently, I assert that, 
with such pure clean fibre, stronger and better yarns can 
be spun than it is possible can be spun from retted fibre, 
which is full of resin, colouring, and other deleterious 
matter, which must be bleached and discharged by strong 
chemicals or alkalies, after being twisted or spun into yarns, 
and the heart or inner part of such twisted yarn must be 
entirely purged from every particle of resin before it can be 
woven so as to make prime quality of linen, or if partially 
purged, for common linen, it must be several months in 
the bleach yard before a prime whiteness can possibly be 
obtained. 

6i In my opinion, the only way to clearly demonstrate the 
facts to the manufacturing trade, and for the information of 
the editor of the Mark Lane Express, and to convince him 



NEW MODE OF PREPARING ELAX. 



181 



of the foundation and evidence I have for saying that he is 
in error, will be to give the following calculations : — For 
example, No. 150 lea yarns are called 1J lbs., and should be 
that weight when spun and made up into a bundle of 16| 
hanks; it will take If lb. of retted Flax to make the bundle ; 
it loses the Jib. by being spun out of hot water, after which 
it must be boiled in barilla, or soda ash, and most likely be 
dipped in a solution of sulphuric acid before it be sufficiently 
purged to be woven into linen or cambric ; after it has been 
so boiled, etc., it is not only another Jib lighter in 
weight, but as a consequence, it is less strong and it is 
also soft and cotton-like, as the boiling takes from it much 
of the twist, and the yarn is altogether of a cotton or down- 
like appearance, all the short fibres being started on the 
thread. 

' ' Now sir, permit me to contrast and point out the dif- 
ference between yarns spun from retted Flax and yarns spun 
from my Flax, made free, as it is before being spun, from all 
resinous or colouring matter, 1 Jib. of Flax will spin 1 Jib. of 
yarn — it cannot be reduced in spinning — the short fine fibre 
or down-like stuff, if any be there, will be twisted in and will 
level the yarn or thread in spinning, and it will appear 
shining, with a glossy skin like a silk thread, and being ready 
for the loom, it will not require further boiling, and conse- 
quently no reduction in weight, it must therefore be stronger 
and better yarn for any purpose. Again, the linen or cambric 
made from such yarns will not require to be bleached, for 
it is quite clear that all that will be necessary is to mill- wash 
and beetle the goods, if they be linen, to finish them for 
market ; and I fearlessly assert that such goods will 
be as fine and considerably stronger than goods ot 
the same set made from the same number of yarns 
spun from retted Flax. Expecting that this will meet 
the eyes of the linen manufacturers, bleachers, and 



182 DICKSON ON THE 

spinners of Great Britain and Ireland, in your widely- 
circulated paper, 

" I am, dear Sir, your obedient servant, 

"J. HILL DICKSON. 

' ' British and Foreign Flax Works, 
"Grove Street, Deptford, London, 
"August 29, 1854/' 



EAST INDIA HEMP AND OTHER FIBRES. 

Various specimens sent by Dr. Royle, of the East India 
House, and merchants in Mark Lane, the Messrs. Henry, 
large importers of hemp and Flax, the following has been the 
result of preparing : — 

Madras hemp, valued when imported at £24 per ton : 2cwt. 
3qrs. 3lbs. produced by the machines — 

lewt. Iqr. 7 Jibs, clean long fibre, valued at £45 per ton. 
Icwt. Iqr. 9lbs. clean tow fibre, valued at £30 per ton. 
Waste 14|lbs. 

Total, 2cwt. 3qrs. 3lbs. — Cost of preparation 6s. lfd. per 
cwt. 

This hemp, when prepared with the patent liquid, became 
soft, white, and so fine when hackled, as to bear the closest 
comparison with FJax at £80 per ton ; it is better than any- 
Russian Flax for fine spinning. 

Bombay hemp, rough and dark, cost £15 per ton ; expense 
redressing, £4 10s. per ton, sold at £35 10s. This article 
being similarly prepared, was considered equal in value with 
the Madras hemp. 

Hymalayan hemp, superior in strength to Russian hemp or 
Flax. This article in the rough state is worth £60 per ton, 
but when put through Dickson's machines and liquid, it 



FIBRE PLANTS OF INDIA. 



183 



becomes so soft and fine, and retains its strength, that it is 
worth £100 per ton. 

Nalgery Nettle.— -This is an extraordinary plant, it is 
almost all fibre as there is little or no waste in preparing it ? 
the shorts or tow resemble sheep's wool and will do well to 
mix with that article ; the long fibre being fine, it is worth 
from £70 to £80 per ton. 

Wild Reeea from Assam.— -This is not so strong, but 
equally fine fibre. The Pine Apple, Yercum, Wucknoo-nor, 
Plain tain, and Alloe fibres are all made softer and more 
valuable by the machines, but they are only fit for rope and 
twine makers. See Dr. Soyle's testimonial : — 

' 1 East India House, 
" Feb. 28th, 1854. 
" Sir, — I have received the specimens of East India fibres 
which you have been good enough to put through your 
machines and liquid. The effect is marvellous on many of 
them, and I feel from what I have seen, that your manage- 
ment must be admirable, to convert such ugly rough looking 
fibres into silky ? hair-like material. The other Flax fibres I 
have also looked at and much admire. There is a great 
abundance of fibres in India well worthy the attention of 
merchants. 

' ' Your obedient servant, 

"J. F. ROYLE. 

"Mr. J. H. Dickson, 

' ' Machine shop and Flax Works, 
" Grove Street, Deptford." 

The specimens alluded to by Dr. Royle, were the first Rheea 
and other fibres that I had from him to prepare on my 
machines. 

I had from twenty-five to thirty engineers and pattern 
makers at ivork from Nov. 1854 to Nov. 1855, making my 



184 



PICKSON ON THE ADVANTAGE OF 



improved machinery under my own direction, and that from 
drawings by my own hands cdone y determined that no man 
should be able to say he gave me an idea on any 'part of my 
inventions, and my success arose from a determination to 
conquer difficulties, by keeping in mind the motto of the late 
great Duke of Wellington, ' ' Nothing impossible, try again." 

In addition to the above experiments, I have been induced 
to add another and a more successful trial on English green 
Flax-straw, had from the factory of Mr. Smith, Greenwich ; 
of this straw 14lbs. was weighed on its arrival on Tuesday, 
in presence of Mr. Simpson, Director of the Eastern Counties 
Railway, and several other gentlemen: it was converted in 
twenty minutes into marketable fibre, and produced 4lbs. 
of perfectly clean, long green Flax, and lib. of tow. 

The newest and most approved of machines and mills in 
Ireland cannot produce more than from lib. 12ozs. to 2lbs. 
or 2-Jlbs. of clean Flax from lOlbs. of retted Flax-straw, and 
it requires 14lbs. or 15lbs. of green straw, such as I worked, 
to make lOlbs. of retted straw — see Tuesday's Banner of 
Ulster, containing a report of experiments made in presence 
of a committee from the Royal Flax Society of Belfast; 
from this it is evident that I have produced double the 
quantity of fibre, from the same weight of green Flax-straw, 
and what is of more importance, from 20 to 25 per cent, 
will cover the loss or waste in making the green fibre 
perfectly white, and thus the delay and expense of bleaching 
goods made from Flax entirely got rid of. 

The reader may ask why I repeat so often the weight of 
clean fibre from a given weight of unprepared material, 
therefore I wish him to understand, that in no instance 
have I lifted my pen to assert what my machines could 
produce, unless I had it in my power to refer to parties of 
undoubted position and character, who had seen the test of 
working from such weight of raw material. 



HIS MACHINES IN IRISH WORKHOUSES. 



185 



LETTER XL 

ON THE SUBJECT OF PROFIT MADE BY FLAX-GBOWING OVEB 
EVEBY OTHEB CBOP GROWN IN IRELAND. 

' ' I might add to these statements some scores of instances, 
where much greater profits have been gained by selling the 
Flax-straw, and can generally refer with pleasure and pride to 
Ulster farmers having cleared from £15 to £20 per acre, 
where they have, in addition to their proper system of 
cultivation, the opportunity of getting their Flax scutched 
on their own account ; and with such an array of facts before 
us, are we not warranted in saying, that such absentee land- 
owners as the Marquis of Landsdowne, ought to feel how 
imperatively necessary it is to in trod Lice amongst the tenantry, 
andj by every means in their power, to encourage, promote, 
and extend FJax-culture, under which Tralee, for instance, on 
the property of the marquis, would be so essentially benefitted. 
It is not many years since that humanity shuddered at the 
fact that 7,300 human beings were immured in the union 
workhouse of Tralee ! What a mass of misery, and what an 
enormous pressure on the tax-payers was here, all of which 
might be effectually relieved by a wise and liberal expenditure 
in encouraging the growth of Flax, by erecting mills and 
introducing improved machinery for the preparation and 
manufacture of textile fabrics, which would empty the work- 
house (falsely named), and liberate the muscular power 
doomed to dreary inactivity within its walls. c Set the 
prisoners free,' occupy them in healthy and remunerative 
employment, and thus contribute not merely to the happiness 
of the individual but to the permanent prosperity of the 
commonwealth. Let us contrast any town or district in the 
Ulster estates with Tralee, and we cannot fail to be struck 
with the blessings which flow from landowners looking after 



186 



DICKSON ON THE ADVANTAGE OF 



their estates, living amongst their tenantry, and cherishing 
towards them a paternal regard, in place of leaving them to 
the caprice of paid agents and their co-partners (Ireland's 
curse), the attorneys. Amongst the tenantry of such men as 
the Lords Downsliire, Roden, Mandeville, La?iesborough, etc., 
we never read in Assize or Petti/ Sessions reports, of either 
cruelty or neglect, or of orders issued calculated to shorten the 
days of fatherless and helpless infancy. No, they prefer having 
a portrait and description of their real worth as landlords 
(drawn from their acts to a happy tenantry), not emblazoned 
in and enlarged on by any illustrated publication, but written 
on the hearts of a people whose high-minded feelings on 
subjects of justice and truth are equal to the owners of the 
soil of Ulster. They are perfectly aware of the true meaning 
of the phrase that 'property has its duties as well as its 
rights,' and as they are a Flax-growing and manufacturing 
people, and generally speaking, first-rate farmers, and en- 
couraged in all their pursuits by the owners of the soil, the 
facts cannot be made too public, because in my humble opinion, 
they must lead to a national benefit. 

"Her Majesty's ministers have now a splendid opportunity 
of doing Ireland a great and important service ; the late govern- 
ment failed to do anything to relieve the distress, but with a 
niggardly hand advanced £1,000 annually, whereas £10,000 
for the same purpose would have been too little to perma-- 
nently establish the culture of Flax in the southern and 
western districts. Let these facts be impressed upon those 
now in power. They profess with honest sincerity, I am well 
convinced, to be the friends of the farmer. Let them make 
advances to landlords to erect breaking and scutching mills 
of the most improved description, so that there may be one 
every five miles apart in every county in Ireland, and not 
only will the great prisons, such as the Tralee workhouse, be 
soon emptied of their starved inmates, but the profits that can 



HIS MACHINES IN IRISH WOEKHOUSES. 



187 



be made from such establishments will enable the borrowers to 
pay off the loan in five years, if proper machinery be first 
organized for preparing the material. 

' ' 1 am, Sir, your obedient humble servant, 

"J. H. DICKSON. 

" London, April 20, 1852." 

Previous to my publishing the above letter, on public 
grounds, and in most respectful terms, I addressed a letter to 
the late Marquis of Landsdowne, pointing out the advantages 
that would unquestionably follow, if he gave his patronage and 
support to my views of introducing into the workhouse of 
Tralee my system of employing the inmates, which contained 
7,000 of his tenantry; but in place of the noble marquis 
feeling obliged to me for the facts which I brought before 
him — facts that every man in the north of Ireland would bear 
witness of — as to the result from which alone their poor- 
houses never contained one-eighth of the inmates in Tralee 
workhouse, he wrote in answer as follows ; — 

" London, June 27, 1851. 
"Sir, — I am directed by the Marquis of Lansclowne to 
acknowledge your letter of the 25th instant, and in reply 
to inform you, that he has adopted for the improvement 
of his property in Ireland such measures as he thinks 
desirable, under the local superintendence of persons in 
whom he places confidence, and therefore is under no 
necessity of troubling you upon the subject ; if, however, 
he should be desirous of communicating with you, he will 
not fail to let you know. 

<( I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, 

"W. ABNOLD. 

" J. Hill Dickson, Esq." 

As I only took the liberty to point out by my letter 
how the condition of the tenants of the noble marquis 



188 



DICKSON ON THE ADVANTAGE Oi" 



could be f permanently improved/ and not 6 his property 
in Ireland,' and that in my plain but respectful method of 
addressing noblemen and gentlemen in a higher sphere of life, 
and I did not even hint at a desire to gain his ' confidence,' 
more than to find my letter might lead to a civil answer, and 
desire for more information on the subject, but the exposure of 
the awful consequences of such an amount of misery on one pro- 
perty was a sore place to touch, and there is in the reply such a 
thorough want of Christian feeling for the unfortunate tenants of 
the marquis, and the 7,300 inmates in the Tralee workhouse, 
that I cannot but contrast the 'Lansdowne politeness' with 
the letters I received from the late lamented Lord Cloncurry, 
which will be found at the end of this book ; also letters from 
Lord Bernard, the Earl of Gainsborough, and Earl Clan- 
carty, to whom I had w 7 ritten in the same strain and for a 
similar purpose. The most charitable view that I can take 
of the letter is to suppose that he (if he knew the contents) 
was suffering from an attack of the gout, the pains of which 
made him irritable, for I feel certain that, if he in more com- 
posed moments thought of the Downshire estate, and the 
Bownshire workhouse, and the cause of its few inmates, his 
letter would not have been so worded ; however, as by such 
4 local superintendence' there was the thousands I stated to be 
in starvation, it is now to be hoped that the present marquis 
will lend a hand to the Flax movement in Tralee, as I observe 
a Flax company has been started there, with a view to do 
that which I was the advocate of thirteen years ago, for the 
mutual benefit of the Marquis of Lansdowne and his tenants, 
Property has its duties as well as its rights, and if absentee 
owners of Irish estates will not try to keep up in the march 
of improvement with those noble owners who live amongst 
their people, they must be prepared to hear of it, through the 
public press, if a civil and respectful letter, such as I wrote 
the marquis, be treated in a rude and offensive manner. 



HIS MACHINES IN IRISH WORKHOUSES. 



189 



The following article appeared in the Armagh Guardian 
after an examination, on the part of the proprietor and 
editor of that journal, of Dickson's specimens of fibres, and 
as Armagh is the principal Flax market in Ireland, it follows 
that the editor of the city journal must know the importance 
of the subject: — 

" Important Invention. — On Thursday (July 1855) 
we had the pleasure of inspecting, at the Beresford Arms 
Hotel, several samples of Flax prepared by Mr. Dickson's 
patent machines and patent liquid. Among those shown to 
us were samples of English, Egyptian, Friezland, Archangel, 
New Zealand, &c, and in every case the result of the 
operation was most gratifying. The quantity obtained from 
the raw material is not only greater than has ever been pro- 
duced by any other process, but the quality is decidedly 
superior, and in marketable value is greatly enhanced. The 
specimens of the East Indian fibres exhibited in their raw 
and manufactured state are most extraordinary, and fully 
prove the superiority of Dickson's process. From the Nalgery 
Nettle, an ugly looking object in its natural state, we saw 
material obtained equal to the finest wool. In fact, the 
majority of the articles, no matter what their original cha- 
racter, had the same silky feel, and appeared equally as well 
adapted for manufacturing into the finest cloth. Mr. 
Dickson's process is simple, and promises to effect a mighty 
change for the better among both the agricultural and manu- 
facturing classes. He intends returning to Armagh at the 
cattle show, and will give a public lecture on the subject. It 
is gratifying to us to record his success after so many years of 
labour and study." 

Lord Lovaine, M.P., Colonel Alcock, Mr. J. P. Oaks, 
M.P., and several Flax merchants from London, having seen 
my first machine at work, his lordship requested me to pre- 
pare a small bale of green Flax-straw, grown in Northum- 



190 



DICKSON ON HIS NEW 



berland by Mr. Dand, one of his lordship's tenants. I 
prepared it, and the following is the result : — 

MR. DICKSON'S METHOD OE PREPARING FLAX. 
" We (Bell's Messenger, London) have received the follow- 
ing statement from Mr. Dickson : — 

c; ' Grove Street, Deptford, May 30th. 
" ' Sir, — I have this day prepared Lord Lovaine' s sample 
of Flax, 4 libs. 14ozs., which produced 19 Jibs, of clean green 
fibre. This is more than I have before obtained Lord 
Lovaine sent the sample to ascertain how much fibre I could 
produce out of a given quantity. At his lordship's request, 
on its arrival, I had it weighed in its green and damp state, 
as when taken from the field ; its weight was 53lbs. 4ozs. I 
placed it in the drying room over the steam pipes, and on 
Saturday morning again had it weighed, and found that the 
weight was reduced to 4 libs. I4ozs. I prepared it in the 
presence of \ Messrs. Elster and Co., Flax merchants, New 
Broad Street, London, and several other gentlemen, all of 
whom I requested to see the result, and weighed in their 
presence 19 Jibs, of excellent fibre, sufficiently broken and 
free from wood for my purpose of preparing it for the 
market. 

' 1 ' I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, 

" < J. H. DICKSON.' " 

The above letter appeared in the Banner of Ulster, Belfast 
and the Armagh Guardian, and Bell's Messenger (London), 
copies of which I sent to Lord Lovaine that he might see 
the result of the experiment on his tenant's Flax. 

The following letter from the late F. Loyd, Esq., governor 
of Cork Gaol, deserves the consideration of the public, and is 
well worthy of being in my "third edition on Flax-culture. 
He (Mr. Loyd) was the first person that I heard of, that had 



MODS OF PREPARING FLAX. 



191 



prepared green Flax-straw, after I had discovered how it 
* could be prepared by machinery without retting. 

MANUFACTURE OF GREEN FLAX-STRAW. 
To the Editor of the " Cork Constitution.''' 

" County Cork Gaol, 23rd January, 1852. 
" Dear Sir, — Notwithstanding all that has hitherto been 
said on the subject of Flax, I venture to trespass on your 
valuable -space with a statement which may be worthy of some 
consideration. 

"Having for some time carefully attended to the prepara- 
tion of green Flax fibre, I have arrived at the following 
practical results : — 

" lcwt. of Flax-straw, value 3s., will yield 12lbs. of Flax, 
and 14^-lbs. of tow, cleaned fit for spinning. The Flax gives 
14 yards of linen 28 inches wide, worth 6d. per yard, 7s. ; 
and the tow 9 J yards of sacking, 20 inches wide, worth 4d. 
per yard, 3s. 2d. ; so that 3s. worth of straw realizes 10s. 2d. 
worth of manufactured material. No labour is, however, 
reckoned in this calculation, my circumstances not enabling 
me to estimate its cost. 

"The process is entirely hand labour, after the use of a 
common break. The article produced is superior to any 
material that can be purchased for the purpose of public 
establishments, and can be seen by any person wishing to test 
the matter at the county gaol. 

tc I do not propose this manufacture as capable of competing 
with machine-made linen from "retted Flax as an article of 
trade, but I suggest it as a most important means of rendering 
unpaid labour productive. People seeking workhouse relief 
and confined in gaols should be made, as far as possible, to 
provide for their own consumption ; and this not only as a 
means of economising the public funds, but for the purpose of 
teaching them habits of industry. Instead of buying imported 



192 



DICKSON ON HIS 



articles, it wonld be very well to try what can be made of our 
own materials, and encourage cultivators of Flax by opening * 
them a market for their green straw, vast quantities of which 
could be used in the workhouses of the county. 

' ' I am dear Sir, truly yours, 

" F. LOYD, Goveenor." 



EDITOEIAL EEMAEKS OF THE LONDONDERRY 
STANDARD. 

" IMPORTANT TO MANUFACTURERS . MR. DICKSON'S PATENT 

INVENTIONS, IN JULY 1855. 

" We have much pleasure in directing attention to Mr. 
Dickson's advertisement in our columns to-day. "We extract 
the following paragraph from the Banner of Ulster, and as we 
had ourselves, when lately at Belfast, an opportunity of 
inspecting the sample referred to, we can also bear witness to 
the surprising result of Mr. Dickson's inventions : — 1 At the 
request of Mr. Dickson, we visited him at the Commercial 
Hotel, in order to see his various samples, and to hear his 
explanation of the working of his patents. We do not 
pretend to be capable of giving an opinion as to the value of 
the Flax, Hemp, China and India Grasses, Nalgery Nettle, or 
the other Indian fibres we saw, but we confess that we were 
struck with astonishment to see a long handful of fibre that 
had been taken from the green straw and prepared by the 
machines, and the one end made white, and more 
like silk than Flax, by a five hours' process, and Russian 
and Italian hemp prepared in the same way, appears 
to be equally fine with the Flax. We questioned the 
inventor and patentee as to the strength of the fibre, and 
we give his own words, allowing those interested to test 
the quality, and ascertain how far they are proved by facts. 
Mr. Dickson says he takes the Flax green from the field, 



NEW MODE OF PREPARING FLAX. 



193 



but it must be dry. He had it passed through his 
machines, and cleaned of the wood or shives on which it 
has been produced ; he immerses it for an hour in cold 
water, and discharges by this process (by a wringing machine 
and plenty of clean water) all the green colouring matter ; 
he then boils it two hours by steam in a given portion of cow's 
urine and water, wrings it out, and then washes in hot water. 
He then prepares a certain weight of the best soap to a 
certain weight of the fibre, and by another two hours' 
boiling— up to 210 degrees- — the fibre is perfectly white, and 
freed from all the resinous substances that are found to be 
only partially got rid of by the old system of steeping. He 
argues that the simple articles he uses cannot injure the fibre, 
and that as no decomposition or rottenness has been allowed 
to set in or act on the fibre, it must be found a better article 
than retted Flax, when spun into yarn. Another part of his 
argument is, that as the fibre is perfectly free of the resin, 
without the oily nature of the plant being injured, it splits 
from the hackle, and will make a closer and better thread 
than retted Flax, inasmuch as it will be a pure, solid fibre, 
and it will take more of it to spin a thread of the same 
thickness or number than it will do if the same be made 
from retted Flax. Again, the Flax or yarn being perfectly 
white, it will not boil down as soon as yarn from retted 
Flax does, and consequently a stronger and better web must 
be produced, and the bleaching altogether dispensed with. 
Should Mr. Dickson's process be found to answer expec- 
tations, it may go far to make the community of Britain 
independent of Russia, in the article of hemp especially, and 
may be the means of retaining within our own territorial 
possessions seven millions of hard cash, which have been 
hitherto yearly transmitted to Russia." 

To the above it should be added that I used another 
article, secretly, which counteracted the effect of the alkali in the 

N 



194 



DICKSON ON FRENCH FLAX, PREPARED IN 



soap, and pre vented injury to the fibre — which article I did not 
patent. 

The following remarks by the editor of the Morning Herald 
(London), who visited my factory to witness the working of 
my first patent machine for preparing Flax and hemp, on 
Tuesday, the 2nd of July, 1852, may deserve notice : — 

" New Flax Mill. — The great obstacle to the cultivation 
of Flax, and the many difficulties that have attended its 
preparation, have greatly retarded its growth in Great 
Britain, and any machine calculated to remove such ob- 
jections, and to economize in. the tedious and difficult 
processes of breaking, scutching, and hackling, must be 
hailed as a great boon by all who are interested in its 
cultivation. Mr. J. Hill Dickson, of Grove Street, Deptford, 
has recently patented a portable mill, on which all the above 
processes can be carried on. It is very compact, standing on 
a frame 6 J feet long by 4| broad. It will supersede the 
use of the skilled hands termed scutchers, and reduce the 
cost of this process to about sixpence per stone. It is 
said to be the first machine ever invented that will break, 
scutch, and hackle the Flax as it is taken from the field 
without undergoing the tedious process of retting or steeping. 
We had an opportunity of seeing the mill in operation 
yesterday. It was worked by hand instead of by steam 
power, and making allowance for this drawback, appears 
well calculated to realize the anticipations of the patentee. 
The construction is ingenious, and it does not appear likely 
to get out of order." 

This was the first of my improved breaking machines, 
combining scutching and hackling, but having made further 
improvements I requested Lord Lovaine and a number of 
gentlemen, including the editor of Bell's Weekly Messenger, 
to see my machines worked, and I had two lots of Flax-straw 
weighed in the green state, 14lbs. of each, and the result was 



PRESENCE OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT ENGINEER, 195 



1 If lbs. of fibre out of 28lbs, of Flax-straw.— See the editor's 
report. 

The experiment made by working my former patent 
machines for breaking and scutching Flax and hemp, from 
retted-straw, sent over by Messrs. Prichard and Mourneron, 
merchants, Paris (with whom I left a quantity of samples of 
all kinds of fibres prepared by my patents, during the 
"Exhibition of Industry," in Paris, in 1855, where I 
exhibited similar specimens"), is another proof of the value and 
importance of my machines; and I can refer to Mons. 
J. B. Pastoureau Labesse, as he took a note in his pocket- 
book of the work done, and said I might refer to him at 
any time. 

. HEMP AND FLAX PKEPABEB BY DICKSON'S 
PATENTS. 

April 11th, 1856. 

The following was the result from preparing by the . 
machinery alone : — A portion of four bales of hemp and 
Flax-straw, obtained from the committee of the Flax Society 
of Brittany, by merchants in Paris, was sent to Mr. Dickson 
to ascertain what he could produce from them by his 
machinery. The Hemp and Flax-straw had been retted 
(steeped in water), the usual way of preparing in France. 

The French Government Engineer, Mons, J. B. Pastoureau 
Labesse,* was sent from Paris by the government to examine 
the machinery, and witness t ! ie working and results. K. M. 
Jones, Esq., Tooley Street, South wark, and several other 
gentlemen were also present. 



* This gentleman weighed the Flax and Hemp-straw before and after it was 
broken and scutched, and took a note of it in his pocket-book, and gave me 
leave to refer to him as to the quantity produced clean "by the machines.— 
J.H.D. 



196 DICKSON ON FRENCH FLAX, PREPARED IN 



First. 71bs. of hemp-straw was weighed and worked by 
the patent machines. The produce was — 

Long fibre Olb. 12oz. 

Tow, or short fibre Olb. 14oz. 

lib. lOoz. 

From this it appears that 12cwt of retted hemp-straw, 
would produce 2cwt 3qrs. 4lbs. of clean fibre of marketable 

value. 

Second, 7lbs. of Flax-straw was weighed and worked by 
the same patent machines. The produce was— 

Long fibre 2lbs. 2oz. 

Tow, or short fibre . . Olbs. 6oz. 



2lbs. 8oz. 

From this it appears that 12cwt. of retted French Flax- 
straw, would produce of — 

Long scutched Flax 3cwt. 2qrs. 16lbs. 

Tow, or short fibre Ocwt. 2qrs. 16lbs. 

4cwt. lqr. 4lbs. 
Please compare this with the experiment of Mr. Arthur 
Marshal], of Leeds, on 12cwt. of Flax-straw, as reported in the 
Banner of Ulster 9 of April 5th, 1856. From 12cwt. of green 
Flax- straw, Mr Marshall had only 9cwt. 8lbs. of retted 
Flax-straw, and this when scutched, only produced lcwt. 4lbs. 
of scutched Flax, which is only at the rate of Iflb. to 14lbs. 
of retted Flax-straw. See Mr. Marshall's letter on his 
produce. 

The new patent machines and patent preserving liquid 
alluded to by the editors of the Armagh Guardian and the 
Londonderry Standard, by which I produce Flax, hemp, and 
the various Fibres of India in a fit state for being spun 
into yarns, without being retted or decomposed, and the 



PRESENCE OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT ENGINEER, 197 

cost of production and profits realized will be found fully 
explained by the explanations which follow. 

After getting paid £750 for my right of patents for Italy, 
and an order for £2,000 worth of machinery, I visited my 
native city, Armagh, Ireland, on the 10th July, 1854, and 
brought with me a large assortment of specimens of Flax, 
hemp, and Indian fibres, and after they had been examined 
by the trade and editor of the Armagh Guardian^ I agreed 
to return the next month, and to give a lecture on the 
subject, before the members of the Royal Agricultural Society 
of Ireland, at its annual meeting in Armagh ; but as business 
prevented my attendance, I sent forward three cases of 
specimens which, including cases, cost me above £12, 
directed to the secretary of the Agricultural Society, for 
exhibition, but through the stupid neglect of the railway 
officials, my case was overlooked until the show was 
over. In consequence I wrote the following letter for 
publication. 



IRISH RAILWAY OFFICIALS AND THE MODE OF PERFORMING 

DUTY. 

To the Editor of the "Armagh Guardian" 

"Dear Sir,—- It is much to be regretted, that whatever 
opportunity presents itself for opening up a way to improve- 
ments of any kind, but more particularly in matters connected 
with the agricultural and manufacturing interest of Ireland — 
for instance, the Agricultural Show of the 9th, 10th, and 
11th instant, which called forth all sorts of Irish production— 
that men are selected for office whose incapacity or inatten- 
tion to their duty retards the working out such resources. 
Unfortunately for Ireland, employment or situations for the 
middle classes are scarce, and it too frequently happens, as we 



198 



DICKSON ON THE INDIAN FIBRES 



have lately read in the Times (O'Flagherty, Lawley, &c, to 
wit), that either by political influence with government, 
favouritism, or jobbing, men are pitchforked into the position 
of pubiic servants, who, however gracefully they may ngur 
in a drawing-room, or mounted on a hired horse in 
Phoenix Park, are as frequently found incapable of giving 
public satisfaction by doing their duty. Having myself good 
cause to complain, I would respectfully suggest (as a remedy 
for such a national evil) for the consideration of landowners, 
merchants, and the manufacturing classes in Ireland, the 
necessity of advising aspirants to office, whether government, 
railway, mine, or other joint-stock companies, to graduate 
first in London, where the motto is 1 business first, and 
pleasure after,' and when proper selections are made from 
city-trained men, there will be little to fear from complaints, 
such as I have now to bring forward, of neglect of duty. 

' ' My complaint against the railway officials in Armagh 
is quite in keeping, and fully corroborates a common saying 
in London ~~ ( that if letters require an immediate answer, 
or business to be immediately attended to in Ireland (such 
as would occupy Londoners a few hours), that persons 
expecting such diligence in Ireland must bear with dis- 
appointment, as Irishmen feel they have done their duty 
if two days are allowed previously to elapse/ I am grieved 
to acknowledge that I must bring forward, as proof, an 
instance of the correctness of the accusation, although I 
am aware that Ulster abounds with many thorough men 
of business ; but as no man holding a public situation can 
excuse himself for neglect of a day, much less two days, 
he must not feel surprised at his being called to account 
for it : for no matter how business may accumulate, 
extra hands and ' extra attention ' are required, and busi- 
ness should not suffer from inattention— if so, the public 
should know it. 



PREPARED BY HIS PATENTS. 



199 



" Being in Armagh a fortnight previous to the Agricul- 
tural Show, with a large assortment of English and Foreign 
Flax and hemp, China grass, and East Indian fibres of 
various qualities, the greater part of which is far superior 
in strength and fineness, for any purpose, to Russian hemp 
or Flax when worked by my patent machines and patent 
liquid, I was solicited by several influential gentlemen, old 
friends of mine, to return to the show on the 9th instant. 
I promised to do so, and on coming home I prepared 
three mahogany and glass cases, which cost me £8 10s., 
and 15s. carriage to the railway, with a fresh and better 
assortment of specimens, and forwarded them by railway on 
the 8th, that they might arrive in Armagh on the 9th, directed 
to Mr. Earkness, Secretary to the Eoyal Agricultural Society. 
I regularly advised that gentleman of the transit, and 
expected to follow that evening, but business of some 
importance prevented me, and I had to abandon my inten- 
tion. I consoled myself by presuming that the cases 
would be safely delivered into the hands of Mr. Harkness, 
and that the public would have an opportunity of seeing 
in the show yard the various fibres prepared in a manner 
superior to anything yet discovered — a fact admitted by 
English Flax spinners, who have said that 1 1 make Fiax 
into silk, and hemp into Flax,' when giving me orders 
in Preston, on my return. This was also admitted by 
some of the most extensive bleachers and manufacturers in 
Ireland. To my surprise and great annoyance the large 
case, 9ft. by 3ft., with two smaller cases bound upon it, 
large enough, one would think, to be seen (and for which 
the railway company claims £3 carriage), although arriving 
in Armagh on the 9th, were not delivered to Mr. Harkness 
until the 11th, when the show was over! 

"Now, sir, I fearlessly assert that the inspection of my 
specimens would have been interesting, and a treat to the 



200 



DICKSON OX THE PROFITS OF 



merchants of my old native city, as well as the nobility 
and gentry attending the show yard. I think it too bad 
that my exertions to gratify them have been lost by the 
inattention, neglect., and incompetency of the railway official ; 
or, if competent, by his total neglect of duty. There were 
three cards on the cases, with instructions to send them on 
direct, without delay, to Mr. Hark n ess, Secretary, Show 
Yard, Armagh, ' no matter at what cost.' Under the cir- 
cumstances I think that I am justified in calling on the 
Ulster railway directors to investigate the cause of this 
palpable neglect, and if the official be found to have been 
amusing himself in the show yard from the 9th to the 11th, 
with the idea in his unbusiness-like brain that mine and other 
people's property 4 would keep' until a more convenient 
time — I say, if such can be made out, the second in command 
under him should take his place, being first sent to London 
for a season, there to be drilled before his installation into 
office. The public may then rely upon their goods, large 
and small, being sent on to their destination as directed, 
without remaining two days, to the great loss, disappointment, 
and injury of the senders, as well as those that expect them, 
especially in cases of emergency such as the present. By 
giving this a place in your journal, as a warning to the 
servants of the public to perform their duty, you will oblige, 

" Your obedient servant, 

"J. H. DICKSON. 

' ' British and Foreign Flax Works, 

"Deptford, London, 26th August, 1854." 

The above letter was written with a view of effecting a 
cure of the evil, by imparting a lesson on the attention re- 
quired of public servants, that would not be so soon forgotten 
as a private reprimand from one or more of the railway 
directors. It was a coup de grace for neglect of duty. 

In placing before the reader the profits which the Irish 



PREPARING FLAX BY HIS PATENTS. 201 

farmer can derive from cultivating and preparing one acre of 
Flax in the usual way, let me call his attention to the saving 
of expense, time, and the avoidance of loss by decomposition, 
which are effected by my system being carried out. 



Flax (Dickson's Patents). 



Dh. 


£ s. 


d. 


Cn. 


£ 


s. 


d. 


To one acre of 






By 2 \ tons of Max- 










1 6 


9 


straw (produce 








„ 2% bushels Seed 


1 2 


6 


114st. of green 








„ Ploughing and 






Flax-straw) at 










12 





4s. per stone ... 


22 


16 







10 





28 stones of tow 








„ Pulling 


12 





at 2s. per stone 


2 


16 





„ Taking off seed 


6 





„ IBbsls. seed at 








„ Poor Eates and 






10s. per bushel 


8 










10 







33 


12 





„ Carriage 


5 





Deduct expenses 








„ Scutching 114st. 






of production ... 


6 


3 


3 


of green Flax- 














19 





Nett profit on 1 










£6 3 


3 


acre of Flax sold 












8 


9 



Now, as the above profits proceed from Flax being broken 
and scutched by machinery, in the green unretted state, just 
as it comes from the field, let me go a stage further in the 
process or patent system that I have discovered, in addition 
to my patent machines for breaking, scutching, and hackling 
Flax, hemp, and other fibres, that I have made equally 
valuable with Flax and hemp for many purposes. 

I find by experiment and calculation that 14lbs. of green 
fibre will produce, when prepared by my patent liquid, 9lbs. 
long ivhite Flax, and 2lbs. loz. of tow, leaving 2lbs. 15ozs. 



202 



DICKSON ON THE PEOFITS OF 



waste. In this process, calculated at this rate, 2 J tons oi 
straw (the produce of one ache of land) will give 114 stones 
of clean, green Flax, and lGlbs. of tow. 



Flax (Dickson's 

Dr. £ s . d. 

To 114 stones of 

green Flax, at 

4s. per stone ... 22 16 
„ 28 stones of tow 

at 2s. per stone 2 18 
„ For liquid £5 

14s. , and for 

wages £4... ...... 9 14 

£35 6 



Liquid Process). 

Ok. £ s. d. 

By white Flax re- 
dressed, 73 sts. 
at 12s. 6d. per 
stone 43 16 

„ 28 sts. of Flax- 
wool at 7s. per 
stone 9 2 

„ 99 sts. of fibre 52 18 
„ Deduct cost of 

Green Flax, 

bleaching, &c... 35 6 



Nett profit £17 12 

The above profits show by the liquid process (from minute 
calculation, and many experiments during the last three 
years), that there is only one third in weight lost in converting 
the 114 stones of green into 73 stones of white long fibre, 
and therefore, 26 stones of carded Flax-wool. It must be 
admitted by the farmers in Ulster that, as they cannot 
average more than from 45 to 50 stones per acre by the 
old system of steeping or retting, my system gives more 
than double the profit, not only in money value, but in 
weight of fibre. I challenge those who may doubt my 
figures of calculation to an investigation, as I am ready at 
any moment to work the machinery and process in their 
presence. 

Many persons are not aware of the increasing demand and 
consumption of Flax, and may doubt the likelihood of 



PREPARING FLAX BY HIS PATENTS. 



203 



finding a market, if the home-trade in cultivating Flax be 
encouraged in Great Britain and Ireland. The best answer 
that can be given to parties who fear that the consumption 
will decrease, is the following article, taken from the Belfast 
Banner of Ulster, Dec. 29th, 1855, to which I call your 
attention ; — 

" Our imports of Cotton and Flax during the last thirty- 
five years have risen in a most remarkable ratio. Since the 
advent of that era, steam has pursued its giant course, and 
swept on its way with almost irresistible impetus. Our vast 
system of railways, the introduction of Flax-spinning by 
machinery, ocean steam navigation, and all the lesser projects 
of which the Archimedean power is the chief mover, have 
given manufacturing industry the most wonderful degree 
of advancement. During the intervening period from 1820 
to 1854, the imports of the articles named averaged as 
follows :— 

Cotton. Flax, 
lbs. cwts. 
1820 - - 108,000,000 - - - 382,500 
1840 - - 470,500,000 - - - 1,002,360 
1854 - - 860,000,000 - - - 1,303,250 
" The cotton manufacture of Lancashire creates a weekly 
circulation of wages, which in amount exceeds the total pro- 
ceeds of the gold mines in both hemispheres. We have 
frequently referred to the wide-spread demand for labour 
which has been created in the north of Ireland by the opera- 
tions of the cotton trade. When the protection duties, which 
existed between this country and Great Britain, were repealed 
in 1824, only about 9,000 hands found employment at the 
cotton looms. At present the number of weavers would 
amount to 50,000, and in the working of sewed muslins there 
are probably six times that number regularly employed in the 
several provinces. This fact is hardly known, or we should 



204 



DICKSON ON THE PROFITS OF 



rather say its importance is not fully estimated, even in the 
districts where the operations of the cotton trade produce the 
greatest amount of good. Every writer on the subject of 
industrial employment in Ireland is able to tell of the advan- 
tages that arise from the linen manufacture ; but it is very rare 
to find the value of the cotton trade duly set forth by current 
chroniclers. 

"The imports of Flax this year will reach about 56,000 
tons, value at least for about two-and-a-half millions. During 
the present season farmers have received high rates for home- 
grown Flax— -viz. ; 5s. 9d. to 8s. 6d. per stone for one descrip- 
tion of scutched, and 7s. to 15s. for the other. These 
rates would surely pay the cost of culture, and leave a large 
margin of profit to the grower. Flax is one of those products 
which the soil of Ireland can raise to great perfection. Several 
of the more skilled growers have this year produced a class of 
fibre valued at £140 per ton, and yet it would seem as if that 
phase of agricultural enterprise were likely in some degree to 
fall into the back ground. Our splendid factories are unable 
to push on with the spinning of linen yarn, in consequence of 
the dearth and scarcity of Flax; and while such is the fact, 
thousands of acres, throughout every province in Ireland, lie 
in a state of semi-cultivation. 

4< The official accounts of this year cannot, of course, be had 
for some weeks to come ; we may, however, estimate those of 
Flax imports under last year, and the cotton account rather 
above that of 1854." 



PREPARING FLAX BY HIS PATENTS. 



205 



LETTER XIII. 
IMPOKTAKT TO FAKMERS. 

A BEADY MARKET FOE FLAX-STEAW OE STALKS. THE LONG FIEEE 

PREPARED FOE FLAX SPINNERS, AND THE SHORTS OR TOW FOR 
SPINNERS OF SHEEP'S WOOL. 

To the Editor of il BelVs Weelly Messenger?* 

"Sir, — It is now universally admitted, that the only objec- 
tion to a more extended cultivation of Flax, is the difficulty 
which fanners experience in getting rid of the straw or stalks, 
as no regular market for the sale of the article in its unmani- 
pulated state has ever been established in this country. As 
the seed will average eighteen bushels per acr e, and must be 
equal in value to a crop of oats, it is a matter of importance 
to farmers to know that a market for the article is no longer to 
be wished for, and that by good tillage and careful harvesting 
of their crop, they are certain of a market in London, at 
prices that will induce them to cultivate Flax extensively, 
without the troublesome and expensive, and what is of more 
importance, very uncertain process of steeping or retting. 

Being in early life well acquainted with farming operations, 
Flax-culture in particular, and the profits arising therefrom, I 
have been watching with deep interest for the last seven years 
the decline in price of farm produce, because of my conviction 
that nothing but the introduction and practical working of 
machinery in farming pursuits could bring profits up to what 
they were previous to 1845, when the staple industry of this 
country had protection. The objection to Flax-culture is the 
great expense of the skilled manual labour which must be 
incurred in preparing and making Flax marketable, and 
therefore, I confined my ideas entirely to the construction of 



206 



DICKSON ON THE PROMTS OF 



machinery for the purpose, and I am now able to say that 
I have overcome every difficulty, and have worked my 
machines successfully in the presence of several landowners, 
who take a deep interest in the subject, and am ready to 
purchase any quantity of Flax-straw from farmers, at fair 
prices according to quality. 

In addition to the fact already stated in your paper, of my 
having produced 5 fibs, of fibre out of every 14lbs. of Flax- 
straw, an experiment was made on the 30th ult. in presence 
of several gentlemen on a small bag ot Flax-straw, containing 
•in the green state 53lbs. 14ozs., sent by Lord Lovaine to 
ascertain the produce and value. On being dried its weight 
was reduced 12lbs. lOozs., being then 411bs. 4ozs., and 
being operated on by the machine the wood or shive was 
got rid of, and 19Jlbs. of green Flax fibre was the result. 

Your readers will naturally ask, is there a market for 
such fibre, and is it as profitable as retting and scutching in 
the usual way ? I answer, there is a market for it, and large 
quantities can be sold at very remunerating prices. Green 
unretted Flax is a better article for many purposes than 
retted Flax. The gum or resin, being retained, it will, 
when spun, make stronger and better shoe-thread and fine 
twine, and also better sailcloth and canvas than any retted 
Flax. Being able to obtain the fibre without having recourse 
to decomposition, I can collect all the fibre the land produces; 
whereas in retting a great deal of the finer filaments dis- 
appear. By my machines I bring it into a marketable state 
without the after process, which is requisite only when a 
finer and more valuable quality of Flax is wanted for linen 
and cambric yarn spinners. 

Seeing that I have produced 19 Jibs, of fibre out of 
53lbs. 14ozs. of straw sent me for experiment, and calcu- 
lating 20lbs. out of 56lbs. I find in preparing it the produce 
and profit will be as follows : — 



PREPARING FLAX BY HIS PATENTS. 



207 



One ton of green Flax- straw, undried, will pro- 
duce, when dried, 15cwt., and that when 
prepared by my machines, will produce 8001bs., 
or 57 stones 2 lbs., value £26 per ton, or 3s. 3d. 
per stone £9 5 

EXPENSES OF MATERIAL AND WAGES. 



One ton of straw or stalks cost. 


£3 













3 










7 


6 


Four girls drying straw, lOd. each . . 





3 


4 


Three men attending machines, at 













7 


6 


Twenty-four girls, at lOd. each .... 


1 









£5 1 4 



Nett profit on one ton of green straw . . . £4 4 3 
As I take the Flax in the green clamp state as it comes 
from the field, and one acre will produce 2 -Hons, it is 
evident that the farmer who gets from £3 to £4 per ton for 
his straw must have from £8 to £10 fair profit, as the seed is 
worth more than the rent and labour. 

Having calculated selling the Flax in the green state 
at the low price of £26 per ton, whilst the lowest price 
of Riga Flax is £32 per ton, I will give an average of 
the expense and profit of preparing a ton in Norfolk, where 
it is largely grown. One of the most extensive practical 
growers of Flax in that county says, he can produce 20 stones 
or 280lbs., out of one ton of Flax-straw. Let us suppose he 
gets 8s. 9d. per stone, or £70 per ton, a high price for 
English Flax, and we find matters stand thus : — - 
One ton of straw produces 20 stones of fibre at 

8s. 9d. per stone £8 15 



208 



LICKS ON ON THE PROFITS OF 



EXPENSE OF MATERIAL AND WAGES. 

One ton of straw £3 

Watering, grassing, lifting and carting 10 

Scutching 20 stones, at 2s. per stone 2 

6 

Nett profit on one ton of straw £2 15 
When contrasting the best method of hand labour in 
preparing Flax by which the highest price can be obtained, 
with the easiest and cheapest mode of preparing it by 
machinery only, and selling it in that state, the advantage 
of the latter is so apparent that I will not allow the 
mechanical (although it is the principal) part of my system 
to stop the further development of my process; for, as in 
many instances, it would be a sacrifice of property to sell 
the fine Flax in the green state at £26, or even £36 per 
ton ; it would .be no less a robbery on farmers to tie them 
down to £3 per ton, when in reality they may .produce fine 
fibre, good value, for £4 per ton. But as no person can 
judge of the quality in the straw, nor estimate its real 
worth until the Flax undergoes such a course of preparation 
as will discharge the green sap and the resin it has drawn 
from the soil, there is little chance of the grower meeting 
with the worth of his produce at all times, until the system 
of finishing the preparation of the Flax plant becomes 
generally known — and having, in my opinion, arrived at 
the most economical mode of preparing it, I confidently 
submit the following statement : — ■ 
305lbs. of long hackled* Flax fibre, fine quality 

and value for Is. per lb £15 5 

210lbs. of very fine tow, equal to the finest 
wool, and may be mixed with sheep's wool 
previous to being spun, for lOd. per lb 8 15 

Total 515lbs £23 

* Hackled Flax often sells from Is. 2d. up to Is. 8d. per lb. 



PREP AKIN G FLAX BY HIS PATENTS. 



209 



DAILY EXPENSE OF MATERIAL AND WAGES. 



()np ton of orppn p ay ofpm 


£3 


o 





Tjinmn (V,o 


9 





o 


doals 


1 


o 





1 Fnorine man 3s rtpy dfiv 


o 


3 


o 


3 Men attending Flax mills, 3s. each 





9 


o 


24 Women 1 Od. each 


1 








94 Women steemno" and drvino" 








1 Or! oil 


1 





o 


3- Men attending 3 hackling ma- 













9 





12 Women attending the hackling 








machines, lOd each .... 





10 





3 Men attending 3 carding en- 








gines, at 3s. each .... 





9 





12 Women attending the carding 








engines, lOd. each .... 





10 





2 Men in vat room, 3s. each . . 





6 






— £10 16 

My profit in one day in preparing one ton of 

Flax-straw £12 4 

Total number of hands employed (13 men and 72 women), 

equivalent to 85. 

u In addition to the above profit, I can produce from the 
liquid I use — startling as the assertion may seem — a more 
valuable article as manure, than guano. For the facts, as to 
the fertilising nature or properties of the water in which Flax 
has been steeped, see Sir Robert Kane's Industrial Resources 
of Ireland, and my experiments on dahlias, &c, as reported 
in the Gardener's Chronicle, and the Gardener's and Farmer's 
o 



210 



DICKSON ON THE WEIGHT OF PRODUCTION 



Journal, in 1848 : and the opinion of Mr. Mardock, Botanic 
Garden, on the flowers sent for his inspection. 

S ' 1 am, Sir, &c, 

"J. H. DICKSON. 

"British and Foreign Flax Works, 

" Grove Street, Deptford, June 4, 1853." 
Mr. Joseph Dodson, Flax broker, Jeffrey Square, London, 
valued Lord Lovaine's green Flax-fibre at £26 per ton. His 
lordship had it sent to Messrs. Plummers, Flax spinners, 
Newcastle-on-Tyne, and they valued it at £25 per ton, and 
if steeped, valued it at £60 per ton ; Messrs, Gifford and Son, 
Mark Lane, valued it at £30 per ton ; and Mr. Scott, Flax 
broker, Trinity Square, Tower Hill, valued it at from £28 to 
£30 per ton. It is therefore evident that, if farmers pre- 
pared their Flax with my machines, and sold it at from £28 
to £30 per ton, it would pay them better than if they got 
£60 per ton by the old system of retting in water only ; or if 
they sold the straw at £4 per ton, or £10 per acre, it would 
pay them better than any other crop. 

After having had some dozens of gentlemen at my factory 
to witness the working of the machines, including merchants 
from London, and from firms interested and engaged in the 
Flax-trade, amongst whom were Messrs. Elster and Co., 
Flax agents for the sale of Russian Flax ; Messrs. Cassivatti, 
Brothers, agents for Egyptian Flax ; Messrs. Azzoni and Co., 
agents for Italian Hemp and Flax, I was honoured with 
notice from the Eight Hon. Lord Lovaine, M.P., saying he 
wished to be present at the working of my machines. In 
consequence I sent off invitations to several members of 
parliament and other gentlemen who took an interest in my 
labours, and amongst those who favoured me with their 
presence was Mr. Lee, the editor of BeWs Messenger, who 
very attentively watched the operations, and gave a full 
account of what he witnessed during the several hours the 



IN THE PRESENCE OF FLAX MERCHANTS. 



211 



machines were at work ; and the following is the report that 
appeared in that journal the week after : — 

MR. DICKSON'S METHOD OF PREPARING FLAX. 

"At a time when the skill and ingenuity of the farmer 
are being taxed to the utmost to enable him to compete with 
his foreign rival, and to maintain his position in the social 
scale, every plan which proposes to aid him in the accom- 
plishment of this object ought to command attention- Acting 
under the influence of this feeling, we accepted an invitation 
from Mr. Dickson, to pay a visit to his factory in Grove Street, 
Deptford, and examine his process for the dressing of Flax, 
which, he contends, is far superior, as well in its simplicity as in 
its results, to any hitherto adopted in the United Kingdom. 

" Without entering into the details of what we saw — 
because we do not know whether we should be justified in so 
doing— let us say at once that ? as far as we are able to judge, 
the plan which Mr. Dickson has matured, as the result of many 
years' close application and experience, fully justifies him in as- 
serting its superiority over those of Schenk, Warnes, or Watts. 

' ' In the first place the tedious, expensive, and difficult 
process of steeping and retting is dispensed with. One con- 
sequence of this is a much larger amount of marketable 
produce. For example, out of one ton of green Flax-stalks 
Mr. Dickson produces 920lbs. of fibre, that is, 5 fibs, out of 
I4lbs. of stalks. When prepared by his liquid, these 5 fibs, 
have produced 3lbs. 6ozs of very fine fibre. Now, by the 
system adopted by the Belfast Society, 14lbs. of retted straw 
will not produce more than If lbs. of marketable fibre, and 
Mr. Warnes does not, we believe, produce more by careful 
hand- dressing. These simple facts prove at once the supe- 
riority of Mr. Dickson's system. That gentleman, in a circular 
of his own before us, says — ' I can produce from one ton of 
green Flax-stalks, 515lbs. of remarkably fine marketable fibre, 
calculated for Flax and wool spinners; for as the tow is 



212 



DICKSON ON THE WEIGHT OE PRODUCTION 



stronger and finer, because of not being retted or reduced by 
decomposition, I have greater weight of material, although 
completely free from the gum or resinous substances, and 
being perfectly white, will take any colour and mix with 
sheeps wool, and therefore add to the strength of the woollen 
goods when so mixed in spinning ; two lots, each weighing 
141bs. of green Flax-stalks were operated on, in presence of Lord 
Lovaine, M.P. ; Colonel Alcock; Mr. Caldicott, Tratting 
Lodge, Colchester; Mr. J. P. Oakes, M.R ; M. Caldicott, 
Jun. ; and Mr. Shore, of Deptford ; and several other gentle- 
men interested in the Flax subject. The result in both cases was 
5|lbs. each, or 11 Jibs, of fibre out of the 28lbs. of stalks.' 

"As regards this statement, we can bear testimony to having 
seen the results, and those results put beyond all doubts the 
merits of Mr. Dickson's plan. With respect to the tow, its 
superiority over that produced, for instance, by Claussen's 
plan, of which so much has been said and written, is so great 
as scarcely to admit of comparison on the part of the latter. 

' ' As many of our readers are aware, the Belfast Flax 
Society have for some years past recommended Schenk's 
system as the best to be followed. By some improvements 
lately made in that system, the amount of marketable fibre 
formerly produced from a given quantity of Flax-stalks has 
been increased. In a case reported by the society, where 
lOcwt. Iqr. 2ilbs, of stalks were operated on, the result was 
234lbs. of Flax and tow, whereas Mr. Dickson's plan, from 
the same weight of Flax-stalks, will produce 268lbs. ot 
marketable fibre perfectly white, if preferred, the colour being 
under the control of the manufacturer. 

' ' We think we have said enough on the present occasion 
to justify us in inviting the attention of practical men to the 
subject. We hope that some means will be adopted to bring 
the question under the notice of the Koyal Agricultural 
Society of England, the more so, because we have been 



IN THE PRESENCE OF FLAX MERCHANTS. 213 



informed that some unfair and injurious statements have been 
made by ill-informed parties respecting the character of a 
plan which they have never seen in operation, and of which, 
therefore, they were not competent to judge." — Belts Weekly 
Messenger. 

CALCULATIONS FROM THE PRACTICAL WORKING 
OF DICKSON'S PATENT MACHINES AND LIQUID 

FOR PREPARING AND PRESERVING FLAX, HEMP, AND 
OTHER FIBRES. 

In the presence of the agents of the Italian Company, who 
have since purchased Dickson's patents for Italy, 14lbs. of 
green unretted Flax-straw produced 4lbs. of long clean fibre, 
and lib. of tow — total, 5 lbs. of fibre. \ 

As 14lbs. will produce 4lbs. of Flax and lib. of tow, lcwt. 
will produce 32lbs. of Flax and 8lbs. of tow, and 20cwt., or 
one ton, will produce 640lbs. of long Flax and 160lbs. of tow, 
therefore, to prove the advantages of Dickson's patents, he 
brings in contrast the late patents obtained by others, and 
reported in the annual transactions of the Belfast Flax 
Society. 

The first and most important is an experiment made by 
the brother of one of the most extensive Flax-spinning firms 
in England, Messrs. Marshall and Co., Leeds, and as the 
owner of the largest works for preparing Flax-straw in this 
country, and as money is no object when the best machines 
can be got, his experiments must command attention. 

" Leeds, 27th July, 1850 

"Messrs. A. Bernard and Kock, — I now enclose a state- 
ment of the result of the experiment with Dutch Flax 
straw, which I think is favourable to the hot water steeping. — 
(Signed) Arthur Marshall." 

The experiment with the Dutch Flax-straw was made from 
a crop in 1849. 



DICKSON ON THE WEIGHT OF PRODUCTION 



The same lot was divided into three parts — one was 
steeped in Holland in the open pools, and hand-scutched; 
another was retted in Cregagh, Belfast, and mill-scutched; 
the third at Patrington, also by the patent process, but was 
retted twice, likewise mill-scutched. 



bleach- 
ed 
thread. 


OS O 1> 
tO t>^ to 


White 
Brown 
thread. 


tO -<i< «5 


Color- 
ed, 
thread. 


00 Ci (M 

i> 


Grey- 
thread. 


r? *>i '. eg 


Com- 
para- 
tive 
value 
per 
acre. 


shilling. 
188 

210 

214 


Value 
of Flax 

per 

cwt. 


s. d. 
55 10 

74 10 

63 10 


Yield 

from 
hackle 
per 
cwt. 


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f-J rj5 <N* 

to to to 


Held 
per 
cwt. 


1)3 A 
10. 4 

15.7 
18.1 


Weight. 


After 
being 
scutch- 
ed. 


o 


Before 
being 
scutch- 
ed. 


cwt, lbs. 
40 3 

9 5 

10 2 


XjOSS of 

weight 
pr cwt. 


18.9 
20.5 
91.8 


Weight. 


After 
Ret- 
ting. 


cwt. lbs. 
40 7 

9 8 

10 2 


Before 
Ret- 
ting. 




cwt. lb». 

A Q 1 

12 3 
12 5 


RETTED. 


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At Patrington 

Yorkshire . . 
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BY HIS PATENTS COMPARED WITH OTHERS. 



215 



From the preceding statement it is evident that Mr. 
Marshall reduced 12cwt. of green straw into 9cwt. when 
retted, and produced only lewt. 5lbs. of fibre. As other 
experiments appeared in the Flax Society's reports, the result 
of each* must be interesting to Flax-growers. Schenk's 
patent hot water and the old cold water system has been 
reported to produce from Iflbs. to 2 Jibs of fibre out of 14lbs. 
of retted straw, the following has been calculated accordingly 
in order to prove the production from the several modes of 
preparing Flax for market. 

By Mr. Marshall's hot water experiment, lOcwt. Iqr. 25lbs. 
Would not produce more than 102lbs. of fibre. 

By Mr. Andrews' hot water experiment, lOcwt. Iqr. 25lbs. 
would not produce more than 115lbs. of fibre. 

By Mr. W. Adam's hot water experiment, lOcwt. Iqr. 2olbs. 
would not produce more than 126lbs. of fibre. 

By Mr. Warne's cold water experiment, lOcwt. Iqr. 25lbs. 
would not produce more than 122lbs. of fibre. 

By Mr. Dickson's patent machines and patent liquid, 
lOcwt. Iqr. 25lbs. produce 336lbs. green Flax and 84lbs. of 
tow ; total, 420lbs. Deduct 25 per cent, as waste in boiling 
in the liquid, 104lbs., leaving 316lbs. of perfectly white fibre. 
It thus appears that Mr. Arthur Marshall, at Patrington, 
produced out of 12cwt. 3lbs. of green straw, lcwt. 5lbs. of 
scutched, and 64lbs. of hackled Flax ; and at Belfast, out of 
I2cwt. 51bs. of green straw, lcwt. 8ilbs. scutched, and 62lbs. 
of hackled Flax. Dickson's patents at Deptford produced, 
from I2cwt. of green straw, 4cwt. Iqr. 4lbs. of scutched, and 
245lbs. of hackled Flax. 

Looking at the above experiments, which I quote as an 
example of what others have produced from a given quantity, 
I am prepared to prove the working of my patent machines 
and liquid as follows ; — 



216 



DICKSON ON THE WEIGHT AND PROFITS OF 



One ton of green Flax-straw will produce, when 
prepared by my machines, 6401bs. of long 
Flax, worth 4f d. per lb., or £42 per ton, for 
rope or twine makers £1200 

And 106lbs. of tow, worth 3d. per lb., or 

£18 13s. 4d. per ton to paper makers. . . 16 6 

£13 6 6 

Expenses in preparing for market. 
By cost of Flax-straw, one ton. ..£400 

Cost of preparing 2 3 

6 3 

Nett profit, if the Flax is sold in the green state ... 7 3 6 
If the Flax be prepared by the patent liquid, the result will 
be as follows : — 

The 480lbs. of long Flax will sell for lid. per lb., 

or £102 per ton, on an average £22 

The 120lbs. of tow will sell for 8d. per lb., to 

mix with sheep's wool 4 

Total, 600lbs £26 

PARTICULARS OF THE PRODUCE OF FLAX, 
HEMP, AND VARIOUS INDIAN FIBRES. 

PREPARED BY DICKSON'S NEW PATENT MACHINES AND PATENT 
LIQUID, WITH PRICES AEEIXED TO EACH AND ALL, TO SHOW THE 
ADVANTAGE OP MACHINERY WHEN PROPERLY ADAPTFD TO THE 
PREPARATION THEREOF. 

No. 1. Green unretted English Flax, which cost when broken 
and scutched by the machines from £28 to £30 per ton. 
14lbs., or one stone, prepared by the liquid, lbs. ozs. 

produced, long Flax 9 

Tow. 2 

Waste 3 



14 



PREPARING PLAX BY HIS PATENTS. 217 

The long Flax, worth 12s. per stone, or £96 per ton. 
The Flax wool ,, 2s. „ or £16 per ton. 

No. 2. Irish retted (Armagh) hand-seutched Flax cost £40 
per ton. 

14lbs (half-clean), prepared by the liquid, lbs. ozs. 

produced, long Flax 8 7 

Tow 2 4 

Waste 3 5 

14 

The long fibre is worth 13s. per stone, or £104 per ton. 
The wool is worth 7s. 6d. ,, or £60 per ton. 

No. 3. Egyptian Flax, which cost £30 per ton. 
14lbs. half-clean Flax prepared by the liquid, lbs. ozs. 

produced, long Flax 8 

Tow 1 14 

Waste. 4 2 

14 

The long Flax is worth £60 per ton. 
The tow is worth . . . £30 per ton. 
No. 4. Friezland Flax, which cost £48 per ton. 
14lbs. prepared by the patent liquid, pro- lbs. ozs. 

duced, long Flax 8 9 

Tow 2 8 

Waste 2 15 

14 

The long Flax is worth £80 per ton. 
The wool is worth ... 56 per ton. 
No. 5. Dutch Flax, which cost £70 per ton. 
14lbs. prepared by the patent liquid, produced, lbs. ozs. 

long Flax 8 6 

Tow . 3 1 

Waste 2 7 



14 



218 DICKSON ON THE WEIGHT AND PROFITS OF 



The long Flax is worth £100 per ton. 
The wool is worth ... £56 per ton. 
No. 6. Archangel Flax which cost £68 per ton. 



I4lbs cleaned and prepared by the patent lbs, ozs. 

liquid, produced, long Flax ..... 8 4 

Tow 2 7 

Waste 3 5 



14 

The long Flax fibre is worth £120 per ton. 
The wool is worth .... £56 per ton. 
No. 7. Italian Hemp, which cost £50 per ton. 



14lbs. broken, scutched, and prepared by the lbs. ozs. 

patent liquid, produced, long hemp . . 10 14 

Tow 1 9 

Waste 1 9 



14 

The long fibre is worth £70 per ton. 
The tow is worth £36 per ton. 
No. 8. Belgian green unretted Flax. 
14lbs. of this straw prepared by the machines lbs. ozs. 

produced of long green fibre 5 2 

Tow 8 



Total ... 5 10 

No. 9. Belgian retted Flax-straw. 

14lbs by the machines alone produced, of lbs. ozs. 

long fibre - -- -- -- -- 2 15 

Tow - 13 



Total ... 3 12 

No. 10. New Zealand Flax (Phormium Tenax), which was 
sent by the Society of Arts, who offered fifty guineas 



PREPARING FLAX BY HIS PATENTS. 219 



premium over the selling price of the machine best calculated 
to prepare it. I had no patent then in 1855 for New 
Zealand, and refused any information on the subject, but 
now in November 1864, I am determined on having a patent, 
as I have made New Zealand Flax worth £40 to £50 per ton, 
by machinery, without any liquid process. The article is 
gathered by the natives and sold in Auckland by them at 
£10 per ton, and as the New Zealand government has taken 
the wise and business-like course to cause the fibre plants of 
the country to be brought into a state for exportation to 
England by an offer of a reward of £2,000 to the first person 
who will by s his own invention produce 40 tons of the 
Phormium Tenax so prepared as not to exceed £25 per cwt; 
in cost making ready for market, and £1,000 reward to the 
next five persons who may join and work up 20 tons by 
anyone's invention so as to produce the same advantage. 
Such rewards has induced me to £ ' try again," and the result 
of my labours on a bale sent me by Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, of 
Liverpool, has caused me to receive from one of the best 
judges of Flax in England the following letter :- — 

"Alma Terrace, Kensington, Oct, 17, 1863. 
"Dear Sir, — The sample of New Zealand Flax {Phor- 
mium Tenax) you have sent me may be worth from £40 to 
£50 per ton for coarse spinning purposes, but much depends 
on how it turns out in hackling ; the finer quality is in my 
opinion worth about £60 per ton. 

* ' Yours truly, 
(Signed) "J. R. W. ATKINSON. 
"Mr. J. H. Dickson." 
Mr. Atkinson is the retired partner of the firm of Messrs 
Hives and Atkinson, Flax-spinners, Leeds, whose yarns are 
not equalled by any firm in the trade, therefore, such an 
opinion must be sufficient evidence of the value of my 
machines and process. — J.H.D. 



220 



DICKSON ON THE MANUFACTURE 



The 56lbs. sent produced by machinery, of clean lbs. ozs. 

long fibre, unretted, worth £60 per ton 17 7 

Short fibre, unretted, worth £36 per ton - 6 14 

Tow, unretted, worth £30 per ton - 9 2 

Waste, in dressing - - - - 22 9 



Total ... 56 
The above Flax when prepared by the new liquid I now 
use is as fine as Dutch Flax at £70 per ton. 



ADVANTAGES OF WEAVING BY POWER LOOMS. 

An anonymous correspondent having assumed the right, 
through a Belfast newspaper, to condemn power-loom weaving 
establishments as likely to be ruinous to hand-loom weavers 
in Ireland, I took up the cause of progress, preferring railway 
speed to the old four-horse coach practice. As I was the 
first to introduce into Belfast, a power-loom, on which 
we wove prime goods in 1838, I was^ induced to send 
the following letter : — 

To the Editor of the " Banner of Ulster." 

11 Sie, — In your paper of the 3rd instant I observe a letter 
from ' Amicus Pauperis,' on the subject of power-looms. He 
represents himself as the mouth-piece of the weavers of 
Clough and Ballymena, and states that 1 the report of linen- 
cloth being made by power-looms for 6s. the piece of 52 yards, 
while hand-loom weavers are obtaining 16s. per piece, has 
caused considerable anxiety to weavers in that district.' I 
feel anxious, therefore, from a desire to see the linen-trade of 
Ireland so extended as to supersede cotton-shirtings, to remove 
your anonymous correspondent's doubt, and partially to 
prepare the weavers for what I hope soon to see, viz., a factory 
for weaving by power-looms on every two square miles of 
Ulster where the work may be carried on, to the discomfiture 



OF LINEN BY POWER LOOMS. 221 



of those who, when potatoes are cheap, get behind ditches to 
enjoy their smoking propensities, and attend fairs and markets 
in idleness, often keeping the yarns of two or three manufac- 
turers sometimes for months in the loom and house before 
returning them. I speak from experience, and I know the 
necessity and advantage that must be derived by the spread of 
the power-loom, in preference to the unsafe and uncertain 
supply which linen manufacturers are obliged to depend on, 
from distributing yarns ten or fifteen miles round about and 
removed from their residences. I hope I may be favoured 
with space in your widely circulated journal, in order that 
my views, if thought sound, may serve the cause I advocate. 

'"It is well known in Ballymena, Maghera, Gracehill, and 
Ahoghill, that the firm of Ledwich -and Dickson built a large 
establishment in the latter place, and in 1837, 1838, and 
1839, employed more weavers than any four houses in that 
district in making 4-4ths and 7-8ths linen from 12 00 to 22 00 , 
both light and heavy cloth, in addition to having often above 
1,000 in Banbridge, Lurgan, and the neighbourhood, making 
plain and fancy drills, damasks, diapers, and lawns. I 
presume I may say (as I was the working man of that firm) 
that I have some practical knowledge on the subject. Our 
orders for goods were considerable, and frequently we could 
not execute them in reasonable time, owing to the delay of 
cloth in the weaver's hand. On looking over our books in 
the harvest of 1838, I found we had such a quantity of yarns 
in the hands of weavers that, when added to about £4,000 
worth of boiled stock in our warehouse in Doneg all-street, 
ready to be given out, the interest on the money locked up 
in yarns so distributed was more than a moderate profit 
would cover. I then resolved on having a factory and power- 
looms, confident that I could overcome the suppos ed difficulty 
in making good selvages, and equally confident, from inquiry 
and calculations, that I could turn out more goods in twelve 



222 



DICKSON ON THE MANUFACTURE 



months with 100 power-looms and £2,000 capital, than we 
conld get in twelve months from 1,000 hand-loom weavers 
and a capital of £6,000 employed. Having determined on 
making a trial, I brought prepared linen and drill- warps and 
wefts with me to Leeds, and had one of the best put to work. 
I superintended the alterations and improvements that we 
found requisite, until we had the loom perfect, and in three 
w r eeks I returned to Belfast with a linen-drill and a linen-web, 
both being perfect in selvage and centre ; they were not as 
eye-sweet* as the hand-made cloth, because of the want of 
tallow and potatoes, and flour-dressing that weavers rub into 
linens and drills, consequently the slubs and imperfections in 
the yarns were not hid, as is the case in hand-weaving, but 
the yarns were driven evenly by the same constant force, and 
when bleached and finished, the drill in particular, was 
superior to the same made by hand. Being satisfied with the 
loom, I ordered 100, and commenced the erection of a factory 
on the BlackstafT riverside, the shell of which cost £1,100 and 
upwards, and had not the storm on the 6th of January, 1839, 
levelled the entire premises, we must have been successful 
in adopting the power-looms, as we had no difficulty to 
overcome. 

"Your correspondent appears alarmed at the supposed 
misery and starvation which he thinks must follow the intro- 
duction of power-looms, forgetting that skilled hands must 
attend them, and that the weaver's children will also have 
employment. He overlooks the fact that if 10s. can be taken 
off the price of weaving a 20° linen, which I calculate is now 
made for £2 9s. lid., or 13}d. per yard in the brown state, 
and the boiling and bleaching dispensed with, which will 
reduce it to lid. per yard, and equal reduction on 14 co linen, 
which appears to cost £1 12s. 8d., such goods will only cost 



* Not so clear of slubs, or knots, as the hand-woven cloth. 



OF LINEN BY POWER LOOMS. 



223 



6d. per yard : and if my system of preparing Flax be adopted, 
boiling yarn and bleaching cloth must be dispensed with, and 
a saving of from 3d. to 4d. per yard effected. If manufac- 
turers persevere with the introduction of power-looms, the 
cotton rags of Manchester now used as shirting will soon be 
thrown aside to make room for a superior article, viz., 12 00 
Irish linen at 6d. per yard, and 20°° at lid. per yard for 
shirt breasts, &c. Had your very enterprising and spirited 
townsmen, Messrs. Mulholland, Hind, and Herdman (who 
were the first to put a stop to the linen trade of Ireland being 
taken away to Leeds, Barnsley, and Dundee) been frightened 
by erroneous and imaginary feelings of benevolence, and fears 
that their spinning-frames would have prevented the old 
women of Clough, Ballymena, Strabane, or Keady (all so 
celebrated for hand-spinning) from earning their tea and toast 
money, without such machines creating, as they have done, 
much more than an equivalent — their factories, which are 
now the imposing and commanding ornaments of your city, 
located in York Street, Durham Street, Smithneld, and Falls 
and Crumlin Koads, with their many thousands of hands 
employed, would not have been erected : nor would they have 
induced so many others to follow their example — all of which 
causes many thousands to visit Belfast on business, who 
otherwise would not have seen it, unless, perchance, they 
came to emigrate for another land. 

" Again, the poor man's professed friend says the linen 
trade is i universally admitted to be the cause of prosperity in 
Ulster.' No doubt it is, and will be more so. If there were 
twenty power-loom factories from Belfast to Ballvmena, thirty 
between it and Armagh, and twenty between it and 
Banbridge, those weavers who always lost Saturday 
in Ballymena, and generally another day in the week 
looking for work, would find constant employment and 
not lose one hour. The steam-engine never gets fatigued in 



224 



DICKSON ON THE MANUFACTURE. 



plying the shuttle, whilst the loom works from six to six 
o'clock, and if attended properly, more than treble the 
quantity of linen would be produced, with less than half the 
capital required in hand-loom weaving. Would Manchester, 
with its palace-like warehouses, ever have arrived at the 
emiDent position it can boast for wealth and production, if 
they had confined their manufactures to hand-loom weaving ? 
or would the London shop-windows be crammed, as they 
undoubtedly are, with cotton shirts and indispensable linen 
fronts (because they will not be purchased without linen 
fronts) at 3s. 6d. to 5s. 6d. each, to supersede, as they have 
done, Irish linen ? No, sir, it is to the power-loom alone that 
Manchester owes its greatness ; and those who have read the 
history of Lancashire and Yorkshire, and watched the in- 
crease of the commerce and population of Belfast, must admit 
that the more machinery can be got to do the work of 
spinning and weaving, the cheaper the goods must be made, 
the more they must come into use and find their way to the 
gold and other regions, where such arts are unknown, or if 
known, not followed as a matter of business, as more profit- 
able and easy employment is to be had in abundance. 

' • Another advantage in factory labour is, that girls and 
boys who rove about in the country in idleness, only winding 
bobbins for their father a few hours in the day, whilst he, their 
only provider, toils from six in the morning to ten o'clock at 
night, may earn nearly as much as he can. If such is not 
the case, how could the factory workers in Manchester go to 
the market on a Saturday night, and pay 6s. for a fat goose, 
or 7s. or 8s. for a turkey, such as can be had in Belfast for 3s. 
to 4s. each ? It often happens that a sober, industrious man, 
having a family brought up similarly, can soon elevate himself 
above the toil of hard work ; whilst the less industrious man, 
who has no family, must work on all his life* I have known 
many industrious weavers in Ireland very poor and badly off 



OF LINEN BY POWER LOOMS. 



225 



from having large and unemployed families depending upon 
them alone for support. The hand-loom weaver, who is so 
short-sighted as to fear the introduction of power-looms and 
would prefer the slave-like life and system of weaving in a 
smoky cabin, sooner than he and his family should walk a 
mile to work in a warm but well-ventilated, clean factory, is 
only fit to sit in his cabin and feed geese for those in Man- 
chester who know how to earn what they will have— a good 
living. 

' 1 A girl or boy, with a few month's practice, can attend on 
two looms in w r eaving from 9 00 to 14 00 linens. I have seen 
them do it in Messrs. German, Petty, and Go's factory in 
Preston, and earn from 6s. to 9s. per week. 

" Strong 14 00 shirting linens can be made from my white 

Flax for 7d. per yard, and a light 14 00 for fid. per yard, 

and being confident that either will be better and stronger 

than" the same quality, of goods made from grey yarns spun 

from retted Flax, which must become considerably lighter 

and w r eaker from being first boiled and then bleached, I would 

just ask the British and Irish farmers and tradesmen why 

they continue to wear cotton shirts when they can be so much 

better served with linen, the production of our own country, 

and at all but the same price ? The mistake has arisen from 

two false ideas, viz., that linen cannot be made to compete 

with cotton, and that cotton is the healthier of the two 
materials. I feel confident that six linen shirts, at the prices 

named below, will wear longer than nine cotton shirts at the 

prices quoted : — 

COST OF A LINEN SHIRT. 

3 yards 4-4ths 14 00 linen, at 7d. per yard .... £0 1 9 

| yard of fine linen for fronts, etc., 10 

Thread and buttons 002 

Making 010 

£0 3 9 



226 DICKSON ON THE ADVANTAGES OF MAKING LINEN 



COST OF A COTTON SHIET. 

3 yards of cotton, 6d. per yard £0 16 

| yard of linen for fronts 006 

Thread and buttons 002 

Making 10 

£0 3 2 

"I will undertake to establish the fact,* that this linen 
shirt will be a superior article to those in the London shop- 
windows, marked at from 4s. 6d. to 5s. 6d. each. If such can 
be proved, it is the duty of every man of influence in the 
kingdom to encourage, to the utmost of his ability, the 
cultivation of Flax and such home-made goods. Hoping 
that such may deserve your attention, 

"I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 

" J. HILL DICKSON. 
" Flax Works, Grove Street, Deptford. 
" London, Dec. 18th, 1856." 

The above letter was inserted in the Belfast news- 
paper, but no attempt was ever made to answer it. In fact 
it was unanswerable, and I am now informed that there is one 
firm has not less than 1,000 power-looms at work, and many 
others are now adding to them every week more and more. 

Looking back at the ups and downs of firms in the linen 
and cotton trade since 1839, and the views I had then (which 
have never changed) that linen could be made to take the 
place of cotton, I am thoroughly certain, that if I had 
remained in Belfast, and urged my practical views on men of 
spirit in that enterprising city, the linen trade of Ireland 
would have been, through the use of the power-loom alone, 
live, if not ten years in advance compared to what it is, but 



* The calculation on linen and cotton cloth was made in 1858, therefore it is 
evident such cotton cannot he got now in 1884 at 6d. per yard. 



FROM FLAX PREPARED BY HIS PATENTS. 227 

our heavy losses through shipping houses disgusted men with 
the trade, and I left for London in 1842 — against the advice 
of all my friends in Ireland, to fight the battle of life, which 
is no easy task for an Irishman in London, unless he has 
capital at command — for there is no mistake as to Cockney 
prejudice against him. 

The white yarns noticed below are from Gregeen and 
Dickson's new patents, protected December 1857, and sealed 
December 1858.* 

As my object is to show how linens can be made to super- 
sede cotton-shirtings, I have looked over my old scale of 
making them, in order that those interested may see the 
advantage which I assert can be gained by my patent process 
in preparing Flax for spinning by machinery, and weaving 
by power-looms. 

Cost price of 4-4tiis strong linens by hand-loom weaving : — 

9 00 ~ 30 hanks warp, 25 tow, 3|d.. per hank £0 8 9 
32 hanks weft, 30 tovv, 3d. per hank 8 

"J- . £0 16 9 

Boiling 13 

Warping and winding . - 10| 
Hand-weaving .... 070 

£1 5 10i 

Or 6d. per yard, Brown, 
9 00 Cost price by power-loom of Dickson's patent white 
Flax- yarn : — 

62 hanks yarn .... 16 9 
Warping and winding . 10\ 
Power-loom weaving ..030 

£1 n 

Or 4|d. per yard, White. 

Dr. Cregeen's only claim on J. II. Dickson's patented discoveries arises from 
his being- the assistant in the liquid process of making oil into a softening and 
bleaching liquid, by the use of ammonia. 



228 DICKSON ON THE ADVANTAGES- OF MAKING LINEN 

12 00 40 hanks, 30 Flax-yarn, at 4Jd. per hank £0 15 2 
42 hanks, 50 Flax-yarn, at 3d. per hank. 10 6 

82 £1 5 8 

Boiling ...... 1 9 

Warping and winding .013 
Hand- weaving ... 9 

£1 17 7 

Or 8|d. per yard, Brown. 

1 2 00 Cost price, by power-loom, of Dickson's patent white 
Flax-yarn : — 

82 hanks ...... £1 5 8 

Warping and winding ,013 
Power-loom weaving . 3 

£1 9 11 

Or 7d. per yard, White. 

14°° 46i hanks, 40, at 3|d. per hank ... £0 13 5 
48 hanks, 60, at 3d. per hank . . . 12 

94J £15 5 

Boiling . . , . 1 1U 

Warping and winding. 1 2 J 

Hand-weaving ... 11 

£1 19 7 

Or 9Jd. per yard, Brown. 

14 00 Cost, by power-loom, of Dickson's patent white Flax- 
yarn :~ 

94 \ hanks, yarn . . £1 5 5 
Warping and winding. 1 2\ 
Power-loom weaving .036 

£1 9 71 

Or 7d. per yard, White. 



FROM FLAX PREPARED BY HIS PATENTS. 



229 



Cost, by hand-weaving, of 4-4ths light linens : — 
9 00 30 hanks of 35 Flax-yarn at 3|d. per hank £0 9-4 
32 hanks of 45 Flax-yarn at 3d. per hank 8 

62 £0 17 4| 
Boiling ..... . 13 

Warping and winding. 10 £ 
Hand-weaving ... 060 

£15 6 

Or 6d. per yard, Brown. 
9 00 Cost, by power-loom, of Dickson's patent white Flax- 
yarn : — - 

62 hanks of yarn . .£017 4| 
Warping and winding . 10 J 
Power-loom weaving .030 



£1 1 3 



Or 4M. per yard, White. 

12°° 40 hanks, 50, at 3|d. per hank . . . £0 10 10 

42 hanks, 60, at 3d. per hank .... 10 6 

82 £114 

Boiling ..... 018 

Warping and winding. 1 

Hand-weaving ... 066 



£1 10 6 

Or 7d. per yard, Brown. 

12 00 Cost, by power-loom, of Dickson's patent white Flax_ 
yarn : — 

82 hanks . . . . . £i 14 
Warping and winding .010 
Power-loom weaving . 3 



£1 

Or 5.i&. per yard, White. 



230 DICKSON ON THE INCREASE AND DECREASE 



14 00 46 J hanks, 60, at 3d. per hank . . .£011 7 J 
48 hanks, 70, at 2fd. per hank ... 0110 

94± £12 74 

Boiling i 11 

Warping and winding. 12 
Hand-weaving ... 070 



£1 12 8J 

Or 7 jd. per yard, Brown. 
14 00 Cost, by power-loom, of Dickson's patent white Flax- 
yarn 

94J hanks £1 2 7| 

Warping and winding.. 12 

Power-loom weaving =0 3 2^ 



£17 

Or 6£d. per yard, White. 

IRISH SCUTCH-MILLS. 

As the prosperous condition of the north of Ireland is 
chiefly attributable to the increase of the cultivation, and 
the spinning and weaving of Flax, I must next call the 
reader's attention to the increase of machinery for its prepara- 
tion, and the necessity for such increase, 

In the Appendix to last year's Report, a voluminous 
government return was given, collected at the suggestion of 
the society, showing the number, position, and number of 
stocks, in mills for scutching Flax, in each county, barony, 
and parish of Ireland, in the year 1852. The return was 
given thus fully, as it was the first ever made. This year it 
is not necessary to go into such minute particulars, it being 
sufficient to show the number of mills and of stocks in each 
county in 1853, as compared with 1852. The following table 
will furnish this information : — 



OF FLAX SCUTCH-MILLS IN IRELAND. 



231 



NUMBER OF SCUTCH-MILLS AND OF STOCKS IN IRELAND, 
1852 8c 1853. 





No. of Mills. 


! 


No. OL 


Stocks. 






loOo 


JLncr. 


Deer. 


1852 


1853 


Incr. 


j Deer. 


|Ulster. 


















1 Antrim . . . 


I 90 


103 


13 




432 


631 


199 




1 Armagh. . . 


I 93 


111 


13 




724 


808 


84 




I Cavan . . . 


8 


10 


2 




45 


56 


10 




Donegall . . 


227 


251 


24 




945 


1034 


90 




Down . . . 


1 1 A 


100 


12 




959 


1234 


Ji I 




Fermanagh. 3 


Q 


i n 

L U 






48 


50 


Z 




Londonderry . 


loo 


1DO 


i a 




698 


761 


fiR 
DO 




Monaghan . 


45 


50 


5 




270 


307 


37 




Tyrone . . . 


110 


127 


17 




528 


633 


105 


| 


Total Ulster. 


916 


1016 


100 




4650 


5514 


855 
~ — ■ — 




L'EINSTSE. 






— 












Louth . . . 


/ 


6 






66 


67 


X 




Longford . . 


1 


J. 






8 


8 




a 


Meath . . . 


\ 


5 


1 




26 


34 


8 




Queen's . . . 


1 


1 






6 


6 






Westmeath. 


2 







2 








6 


"Wexford . . 


4 


5 


1 




99 
22 


29 


7 




Total Leinstcr 


19 


18 


2 


3 


134 


144 


16 


6 I 


MUNSTER. 


















Cork. . . . 


8 


10 


2 




82 s 


114 






JLiiiilfcJI . , 


2 


2 






34 


18 




16 


Tipperary . . 




3 




1 


24 


17 




7 


Waterford . . 


,: 


2 


1 




12 


16 


4 




Total Munster 


15 


17 


3 


1 


152 


165 


36 


23 J 


CONNAUGHT. 


















Gal way . . . 


1 


1 






6 


6 






Mayo ... 


1 


1 






8 


12 


4 




Sligo. . . . 


4 


3 




1 




29 




2 1 


Total Connaught 


6 


5 




1 


45 


47 


4 


2 | 


Grand Total Ireland. 


956 


1056 


105 


5 


4981 


5870 


921 


31 



111 the returns for IS 53, an interesting table is appended, 
showing the number of weeks during which each scutch-mill 
was at work in that year. From this we have compiled the 



232 



(ICKSON ON THE INCREASE AND DECREASE 



following table, giving the nnmber of stocks instead of the 
number of mills : — 

TIME TABLE OF IRISH SCUTCH-MILLS. 1S53. 



. 

i 


Under 
10 

weeks. 


11 to 
15 

we eks. 


1 6 to 
20 
weeks. 


21 to 
weeks. 


26 to 
weeks 


31 to 

35' 
weeks. 


36 to 
40 
weeks. 


41 to 1 
45 
weeks. 


46wks. 
and up- 
wards. 




stocks. 


stocks. 


stocks. 


stocks. 


stocks. 


stocks. 


stocks. 


stocks. 


stocks. 


Ulster. 


















Antrim . . 


70 


140 


157 


63 


96 


5 1 


8 


6 


4 


Armagh • . 


18 


130 


136 


134 


192 


36 


18 


12 


38 


Cavaii . . . 


2 


6 






4 


18 


6 


8 


6 


Donegall . . 


61 


138 






246 


20 


104 


11 


16 


Down. . . 


36 


236 




156 


212 




105 


57 


16 


1 Fermanagh. 


11 


9 


12 




6 


12 








i Londonderry 


17 


111 


199 


97 


145 


108 


57 




4 . 


[ Monaghan . 


6 


16 


94 


56 


28 


33 


56 


4 


10 


I Tyrone . . 


11 


24 


98 


61 


211 


62 


88 


14 


11 


Leinster. 




















Longford . . 










8 










Louth . . . 


8 




8 


3 


4 








i 44 


Queen's . . 










6 










Meath. . . 




4 


36 






6 








Wexford . . 


4 




12 




11 











IMUXSTER. 














! 






Cork . . . 


12 




3 




3 




8 


u 




Limerick . . 


4 














14 




| Tipperary . 






3 












i 


[ Waterford . 


4 














12 




jCONNAUGHT . 




















1 Galwav . . 










6 










Mavo'. . . 


12 


















Sligo . . . 


16 


















Total . 


292 


827 


1205 


729 


1178 


429 


450 


154 


198 



The proportion of the whole number of scutching-stocks to 
each or these sections, is as follows : — 

5 § per cent, worked less than ten weeks. 



15| 
14 

8J 
3 

31 



11 to 15 
16 to 20 
21 to 25 
26 to 30 
31 to 35 
36 to 40 
41 to 45 
Upwards of 45 



OF FLAX SCUTCH-MILLS IN IRELAND. 



233 



RUSSIAN HEMP AND FLAX V. ITALIAN HEMP 
AND INDIAN FIBRES. 

To make more public the merits of my patent machines, 
and patent liquid process, I invited a number of London and 
Liverpool merchants, in the summer of 1855, to witness my 
mode of operating on Bombay hemp, by re-dressing through 
the machines. Also working on Italian hemp, in the green 
uuretted stalks, 12ft. long, and green Flax-straw. Amongst 
those present I had Mr. Crisp, the proprietor of the Agricul- 
tural Magazine, who gave the following report : — 

We have great pleasure in being able to call the atten- 
tion of landed proprietors, and British farmers especially, to a 
subject that has just commanded our own immediate observa- 
tion, and which most assuredly deserves also their serious 
consideration, inasmuch as, from all we are given to under- 
stand, Italy has been going a-head of us for the last twelve 
months, by stepping in and contracting to supply Her 
Majesty's government with hemp for naval purposes, and thus, 
as it were, to be the very first to order, as well as to export, 
the original and only machines ever invented in this country 
that will finally prepare and furnish hemp and Flax without 
skilled labour, and (what is of far more importance) without 
steeping, consequently decomposition is wholly avoided, and 
the fibre is thus left in its natural state uninjured, and more 
than one-third in weight is obtained. 

" We have inspected Flax, Hemp, Indian Rheea, China 
and Assam Grass, Pine Apple, Aloe, and other fibres, pre- 
pared in large quantities, at the office in the city, and also at 
the Works of the Patentee, Mr. J. Hill Dickson, Grove Street, 
Deptford, and have no hesitation in saying we could not have 
imagined the improvements possible. We have no doubt of 
the immense value of the invention, and recommend that 
those concerned in the commercial and agricultural interests 



34 



DICKSON ON THE PROFITS OF FLAX 



of this country should, like us, visit Mr. Dickson's W orks, and 
they will be repaid for their trouble. 

u We understand a firm in Brussels is negociating for Mr. 
Dickson's Belgian and Dutch Patents at £10,000 each, and a 
French firm, for the French Patent at £10,000. We know 
the Patentee has for many years been trjdng to bring out his 
useful inventions, and having succeeded, we are glad to hear 
that he is about to reap the full reward of his arduous and 
praiseworthy ] ajbours . 

"During our visit we saw Bombay Hemp, valued at £15 
per ton in Liverpool, prepared by Mr. Dickson's machines, in 
the presence of several London and Liverpool merchants, 
hemp and Flax brokers, and Messrs. Stevens, Brothers, 
Bombay Merchants, and in a few minutes it was made worth 
(as valued by a brokei) from £36 to £38 per ton. Green 
unsteepecl Belgian Flax- straw was broken, scutched, and 
hackled, and a marketable clean long fibre produced, in an 
incredibly short time. The machines are so simply con- 
structed, that a boy or girl may learn how to attend them 
in one day. This Bombay Hemp was sold in London at £34 
10s. per ton, and also in Liverpool at £35 10s. per ton, by 
Mr. Bencke, Broker. The large profit arising from this 
practical exhibition of the invention, has enabled the patentee 
to arrange with large capitalists for more extensive operations, 
by dividing the profits in working his patent machines. He 
is now preparing fibre from the INDIAN Aloe Plant, which 
cost £10 per ton in Liverpool, and £4 per ton for re-dressing 
it, and it has been sold in London at Brokers' Auction, at £28 
per ton." 

The above, together with the following paragraph, appeared 
in a North American Newspaper, the Chronicle and News, 
Kingston, Canada, on Friday the 11th of October, 1855. 

" Hemp and Flax. — We find in the London Agricultural 
Magazine, Plough and Farmers' Journal, for August, the above 



PREPARED EY HIS PATENTS. 



235 



description of Mr. J. H. Dickson's patent for dressing Flax 
and hemp. Mr. Dickson is a brother of Mr. A. Dickson, 
formerly of this city, and now of Friiitfield, Clark's Mills, 
Kingston. 

The following results have been proved by th e working 
of Dickson's patent liquid, process, in the presence of several 
London Flax merchants and brokers. Samples are to be 
seen at the office of the Cotton Supply Association, Man- 
chester. Rheea and Flax cottonized, and as capable of being 
spun on the existing cotton machinery as Sea Island cotton, 
and also the yarn spun and the cloth made from it has been 
sent there several times. 

English Flax-straw, green and unretted, 112lbs. produced 
by machinery alone 22lbs. of long, perfectly clean green fibre, 
worth £56 per ton; 9lbs. of fine tow, perfectly clean green 
fibre, worth £30 per ton ; and olbs. of rough, perfectly clean 
green fibre, worth £20 per ton— total, 36lbs. According to 
the above, it appears that 5Jtons of dry Flax-straw, delivered 
at the works, say at £4 per ton, will produce 20cwt. Iqr. 14lbs. 
of clean long Flax ; 8cwt, 4lbs. of fine tow ; and 4cwt. Iqr. 
24lbs. of rough tow. This green fibre, prepared by Dickson's 
patent liquid, has-been valued at £100 up to £150 per ton, 
and the fine tow at 8d. per lb., by wool spinners. It is per- 
fectly white, and equal in strength and quality to the best 
Belgian Flax, and being discharged of all the resin, it carries 
a high gloss, and has taken fast colours. 

Egyptian half-dressed Flax— 11 2ibs. at £29 per ton, pro- 
duced by the machinery 74Jlbs. of clean fibre, valued at 
£58 per ton; 25 Jibs, of fine tow, valued at £30 per ton; 
waste, 12lbs. in re-dressing — total, 112lbs. 

Friezland Flax — 112lbs. at £48 per ton, produced by the 
machines 90lbs. of clean fibre, worth £70 per ton ; 13lbs. of 
clean tow, worth £32 per ton ; waste, 9lbs. in re-dressing — 
total, 112lbs. This Flax being rather green, from the 



236 



PICKS ON ON THE PROFITS OF FLAX 



peculiar method of native preparation, and not being decom- 
posed by the usual mode of retting, has been prepared by 
Dickson's liquid, and turns out to be equal, in strength and 
quality, to Flemish Flax at £100 per ton. 

Archangel Flax — A sample of this, had from a mer- 
chant in the city at £62 per ton, produced fibre as fine as 
some kinds of silk, when prepared by the machines and 
liquid; and has been valued at £200 per ton for the long 
fibre, by a Flax importer. 

New Zealand Flax — This was sent by the Society of 
Arts, who offer fifty guineas premium for the machine best 
calculated to prepare it. The 56lbs. sent produced by machi- 
nery I Tibs. Tozs. clean long fibre, unretted, worth £60 per 
ton ; 6lbs. 14ozs. short fibre, unretted, worth £36 per ton ; 
9lbs. 2ozs. tow, unretted, worth £30 — 33lbs. Tozs; waste, 
22lbs. 9ozs. in dressing — total, 56lbs. The above Flax, when 
prepared by the liquid, is as fine as Dutch Flax at £80 
per ton. 

It is rather surprising that the people of Canada, with a 
population increasing at the rate of 45 per cent, in five 
years, do not appear to notice the advantages they may have 
by turning their attention to Flax-cultivation, when they 
must see by our English, Scotch, and Irish journals that Irish 
hand-scutched Flax, usually sold at from 5s. 6d. to 6s. per 
stone of 16lbs., is now 10s. 3d., and mill-scutched, formerly 
from Ts. to 9s., is now from 10s. to 16s.* per stone. The 
reader may form some idea of the rising prosperity of Canada 
by the following extract : — 

" In the year 1842 the total revenue of Canada was 
£365,000 ; in 1850 it was £704,200 ; and in 1856 had 
reached £1,238,700. According to the census of 1851, the 
population was 1,842,260, and by that of 1857 it was 

* The price in Armagh, 1864, is from 7s. to gs. 6d. per stone for mill- 
scutched Flax, and 5s. 9d. to 8s. per stone for hand-scutched Flax. 



PREPARED BY HIS PATENTS 



237 



2,571>4S7 ; an increase of 45 per cent, in five years. And 
even to this rapid rate of increase a prodigious accumulation 
is now to be given by the gold discoveries on the Pacific 
coast, and the consequent settlement of t 

I feel quite satisfied that the maiden soil of that portion of 
our possessions would produce Flax of the first quality ; and 
I have reason to hope that my brother, Alex. Dickson , now 
residing on his property at Frnitneld, Clark's Mills, Kingston, 
Canada West, will this coming spring make a trial of a few 
acres by my instructions, and send us some tons that we may 
be able to give the Canadians a good account of their 
productions. 

The Flax-mill owners, Flax spinners, and those interested 
in the linen trade of Ireland; should know the value placed 
on these patent inventions in Italy. I published the following 
document, obtained irom cne agents of the company that 
purchased my right of patents for the Italian States. This 
company has had from me above £-2,000 worth of my 
machines, all of which are now at full work. — See the 
Banner of Ulster newspaper. 

PARTICULARS RESPECTING THE SALE OF 
J. HILL DICKSON'S PATENTS FOR PREPARING 
FLAX AND HEMP IN ITALY. 

BY MESSRS. CTJRTT, PICCIOTTO AND CO., 8, CROSBY 
SQUARE, LONDON". 

A company was formed in Piedmont, for the preparation of 
hemp and Flax by Dickson's patent machinery and patent 
liquid process (on which see the printed reports in Dickson's 
possession). The company is for one million of francs, or 
£40,000, in 2,000 shares of 500 francs, or £20 each, all sub- 
scribed and paid first and second instalments. Curti, Pic- 
ciotti, and Co., sold the patents to the company, and as a 



238 



EICKSON ON THE SALE OF HIS PATENTS. 



consideration for the same, the company has stipulated to 
give them 500 paid-up shares, representing a value of 
250,000 francs, or £10,000, to be delivered after the machi- 
nery has been erected, the process tried, and proved to 
be capable of yielding 10 per cent, on the cost of the material 
used. This is the contract, and is confirmed by the published 
statutes of the company, as approved by the government (see 
printed book in Dickson's possession). The machinery 
(Dickson's patent) was supplied by Curti, Picciotto, and Co. ; 
and the establishment has been erected at the expense of 
about £10,000, and is now at full work on a large scale, after 
having proved the process to be highly successful, and pro- 
mising much greater profit than 10 per cent, on the cost of 
materials. The samples of hemp, produced at a cost of £22 
per ton, have been valued by London Flax brokers at £45 
per ton. 

The only stipulation is that 100 shares shall always be 
held by Mr. Curti, as (what is termed) the grant of the 
company ; the other 400 shares being at the disposal of Curti, 
Picciotto, and Co. 

The large (to some incredible) amount obtained for the 
patents, and a supply of machines by the agents that bought 
them from me, induced me to send to the Banner of Ulster 
letters from Genoa 3 Turin 3 and Brussels, before I asked him 
to notice the facts in his journal. He noticed the importance 
of my invention being appreciated first in a country so far 
behind England in enterprise as regards machinery. 

I stopped to supply Curti, Picciotto, and Co., who were 
London merchants, with machinery, and five Italian mer- 
chants met me in Paris, and pressed me to take up the matter 
out of Curti, Picciotto, and Co.'s hands, to finish the supply 
of the machinery. The immediate failure of Curti, Picciotto, 
and Co., which caused £1,670 worth of acceptances to come 
back on me ended my supplying Italy with my machinery. 



AND MACHINES IN ITALY. 



239 



However, I have now new patents for Italy of a further 
improvement for cottonizing hemp, and as Italian hemp is finer 
and better material than the best Russian Flax for any 
purpose, and I have proved it at least 25 per cent, better and 
stronger than Eussian hemp for ropes, in Her Majesty's dock- 
yard at Chatham. I shall push the matter in Italy, as having 
by my process done away with the old method of steeping 
Flax and hemp in ditches, I must succeed in establishing my 
method of preparing fibres in that country. 

As I visited Cork in the summer of 1851, at the request of 
the present Earl of Bandon, paid his brother, the Hon. Henry 
Boyle Bernard ; the proprietor of the Cork Reporter gave me 
valuable assistance in siloing up a feeling in favour of Flax- 
culture, and the introduction of my patent machines. He 
knew that I laboured hard in the cause, and with, his usual 
good feeling expressed a wish for my success, and at the end 
of seven years he gave the following notice of my new patents 
secured in 1857 and 1858, and the result from preparing Flax 
and Indian fibres, specimens of which I sent to Mr. Briggs, 
then my agent in Cork, expecting, as Lord Fermoy wrote to 
me to say, if I extended my business to Ireland, he would join 
in a company and try and get Mr. Dargan to join in it, but 
there is want of nerve as well as money in the south of Ire- 
land ; they should send their young to be nursed in the north, 
Belfast :— 

From the " Cork Reporter" of Saturday, April 17, 1858. 
' 6 Flax Market. — We are sorry to perceive that yester- 
day's Flax market was, from tardiness or carelessness on the 
part of the growers, or some other similar cause, not so suc- 
cessful as we had hoped it would have been. At its opening, 
there were but a few small lots, so insignificant as to be quite 
unworthy the attention of buyers. When the day advanced, 
and the buyers had left the market, some large lots were 
brought in, amongst which were 2 tons from Mr. Fugue, of 



240 DICKSON ON FLAX IN THE SOUTH OF IRELAND 



Youghal; 12cwt. from Mr. Henry Barry, of Middleton : and 
a great number of lots varying from 10 to 25 stones. It is 
much to be regretted that, although ample time for prepara- 
tion and sufficient publicity in the local newspapers were 
given, the seeming want of attention on the part of holders 
made it an almost total failure. From the Bandon district, 
too, there was no supply, as the entire quantity Lad been pre- 
viously purchased in the mills there by Russell and Company, 
of Limerick. We have to observe also, that although the 
quality of nearly the entire was good, there was some produced 
which was naively termed ' rascally stuff,' and that, although 
the farmers know very well that spinners do not buy Flax in a 
hackled state, preferring to do it their own way, there was a 
small quantity offered for sale in that state. There were some 
buyers from the north in attendance, and we fear that their 
disappointment will exercise a deteriorating influence on future 
markets. Yet, however gloomy this state of things may appear 
to several (and we are of the number), who watch with an 
anxiety almost painful the effect of every effort made to 
resuscitate, or preserve from further decay, the manufactures 
of Ireland, we believe that in this very article of Flax 
manufacture a brighter day is about to dawn. We had the 
pleasure of viewing some specimens of Flax and Indian fibre 
prepared by Dickson's patent process, which Mr. Biggs, agent 
to Dickson and Co., of London, kindly showed us, and which 
were exhibited some time ago to the Cuiverian Society, and 
they certainly were brought to a state of perfection which we 
would almost say cannot be surpassed, at the same time that 
the strength of the fibre is completely preserved. A new 
and important feature in Mr. Dickson's process is, that he is 
able from a rough Indian fibre, which is brought into our 
harbour as dunnage, and thrown away as useless, and which 
can be imported in large quantities at a comparatively trivial 
cost, to produce a vegetable silk, which none but persons the 



AND HIS INDIAN FIBRES IN CORK. 



241 



most experienced can distinguish from the animal fabric. In 
Lille the inventor met with encouragement, the article being 
especially applicable to the manufacture of hats, which is 
carried on so largely in France, and the black die which it 
assumes being found indestructible ; but he preferred giving 
his own country the benefit that energy, properly applied, 
may derive from his discovery. We understand that the 
ingenious patentee is about establishing Flax and silk manu- 
facture on a large scale in our country. To his efforts we 
heartily wish that success which his enterprise and his genius 
so eminently deserve." 

The proprietor and the editor of the above impartial and 
truly patriotic journal, being both from the north of Ireland, 
are aware of the advantage of the Flax and linen trade to 
that province, and their columns have ever been open to me, 
free of any charge, for everything I wrote for insertion, calcu- 
lated to promote in the south of Ireland similar branches of 
industry. The want of proper machinery has been, and ever 
will be, a barrier to the cultivation of Flax, until enterprising 
parties, like Lord Fermoy, put their energies forward and 
induce the owners of approved machinery to erect them 
in proper localities. C. H. Frewen, Esq., M.P., the owner 
of Innishannon, offered me, in 1851, 150 acres of land and 
a mill site in the village of Innishannon, at a very small 
rent for 99 years — the rent to be fixed by two friends — 
and a loan of £2,000 towards building a Flax-mill. How- 
ever, his agent, the Rev. Mr. Somers Payne (so Mr. Frewen 
informed me) dissuaded him from carrying out his proposal, 
otherwise, the £5,000 that I have made and expended since 
1852 on a factory and machinery, engines and plant, &c, in 
Grove Street, Deptford, would have been expended in 
Innishannon ; and would have created a branch of industry 
that must have led to the reclamation of part of the three 
millions of peat bog spoken of by Mr. E. T. Hall, in his 
Q 



242 



DICKSON ON THE LOSS TO INNISHANNON 



work on The Waste Land of Ireland. Had Mr. Colthurst's 
example in the county of Cork been forwarded there, it could 
not fail to have produced luxuriant Flax, equal to that 
produced on the waste land in Holland, and on the banks 
of the Humber, in Yorkshire. Had that mill been erected 
to prepare Flax in Innishannon, the noise of the shuttle 
and the merry song of the weaver would have been generally 
heard in Bandon and Innishannon ; and once more the 
cottages of the poor would have been illuminated, as Pope 
says : — 

" Which not alone has shone in ages past, 
But lights the present, and shall warm the last." 

Such were my anticipations and hopes in 1854. I then 
determined to do my part, and with the assistance of Mr. 
Frewen, then M.P. for East Sussex, to lay such a foundation 
of industry in Cork, as must have led to the rescue of many 
of my countrymen from the iron grasp of poverty. After 
getting an estimate, with plan and drawing of the mills at 
Innishannon, from a builder in Cork, I left that city at the 
request of Mr. Frewen, to meet him at his residence, either 
at Cold Overton Hall, Brickwall, Leicestershire, or at the 
Carlton Club, London. On my arrival home, I felt confident 
that I should successfully carry out my views. I consoled 
myself with sanguine expectations, but Mr. Payne (Mr. 
Frewen's agent) put his veto on my hopes and exertions. 
Ere I was two hours in London, Mr. Frewen's letter arrived, 
to inform me that he had (on the advice of Mr. Payne) 
changed his mind respecting the mill in Innishannon. Mr. 
Frewen doubtless thought (on the advice of his reverence), 
that a Flax-mill, giving employment to a hundred families 
from twelve years old and upwards, was Malum prohibitum. 
He was ill-advised, and his withdrawal from the proposal 
caused me considerable expense, great disappointment, and loss, 
by leaving Ireland at the time, more especially as a gentle- 



BY THE NON-ERECTION OF HIS FLAX-MILLS. 243 



man in Dublin offered to join me, and to give security for 
the £2,000 which was offered by Mr. Frewin, on eighteen 
houses in one of the principal streets in the city of Dublin, 
worth ten times the amount required by me. Flax has since 
risen in price more than one third in Ireland, whilst other 
agricultural productions of the kingdom are one-third lower 
in price. 

After reading the above facts, is it not Malum en se to 
appoint a minister of any church a receiver of rent, or a 
director of bailiffs, to seize and distress, not the rich, but the 
poor f 

I anticipated the growing demand for Flax would increase, 
and that this additional crop being brought into the course 
of rotation, and generally adopted by Cork farmers, would 
be a greater boon than the protection the Corn-laws was 
thought by many to confer on home-produce. It will, there- 
fore, be admitted by every man interested in the linen-trade 
in Ireland, that my views were based on sound principles, and 
a thorough knowledge of the trade. As a proof, I quote the 
following from the Cork Reporter, December 17th, 1858 : — 
" CULTIVATION OF FLAX IN INDIA. 
" The attention of firms engaged in the linen-trade is 
being directed to the importance of promoting the cultivation 
of Flax in India. The deficiency of the supply from present 
sources has been of late felt seriously, the quantity imported 
in the first ten months of the present year having been only 
51,174 tons as compared with 79,746 tons in the corres- 
ponding months of last year. The crop in Ireland has 
fluctuated greatly during the last ten or twelve years. In 
1846 the quantity produced was 28,000 tons, but in 1848 
it fell off to 13,466 tons. In 1853 it increased to 43,874 tons, 
but in the present year it is little more than 21,000 tons.- 
The foreign supply has also fluctuated. In 1835 the quantity 
of Flax imported was 37,092 tons; in the year following 



244 



DICKSON ON FLAX-CULTURE IN INDIA 



76,456 tons; in 1837, upwards of 50,000 tons; in 1838, 
81,314 tons. Nine years afterwards, in 1847, the total 
imports were 52,604 tons; in 1850, 91,146 tons; in 1851, 
59,709 tons; 1857, upwards of 93,300 tons ; while this year 
it is not expected to exceed 60,000 tons. The foreign 
countries from which the supply is principally derived are 
Russia (which has sent us in the last ten months 41,180 tons), 
Holland, and Belgium. These countries are themselves 
becoming large consumers of Flax, and it is even thought 
that in a few years they will be able to work up the greater 
part of their own produce. 

"With regard to the cultivation of Flax in India, an 
appeal has been made to the government that Lord Stanley 
declines to take any further steps beyond those which have 
been already adopted b}^ the Punjaub Government, who 
have of late years offered several prizes by way of encourage- 
ment to the natives to devote their attention to this branch 
of industry. It is stated that no part of India is so well 
adapted for the culture of Flax as the Punjaub. The most 
convenient port for shipment for Europe would be Kurrachee, 
which is now the point of arrival for large numbers of troops 
and quantities of stores. At present there is no export trade 
from Kurrachee, and if vessels could leave the port freighted 
with Flax instead of returning in ballast, additional employ- 
ment would be given to the shipping trade in the East. The 
value of the trade resulting from the cultivation of Flax is 
shown by the following figures : — In 1857 rather more than 
£4,000,000 was paid for the 93,300 tons imported, and when 
there is added the amount paid for linseed-oil and oil-seed- 
cake, exclusively of that imported from the East Indies, the 
total is augmented to £7,000,000, which, it is urged, might 
have been as well expended upon Indian as upon Russian or 
Belgian produce. The formation of a Flax Supply Associa- 
tion is suggested, on the same plan as that already existing 
for increasing the supply of raw cotton." 



AND DECREASE OF FLAX-CULTURE IN IRELAND. 245 



In 1851 I urged, with all the energy I possessed, the 
government of Lord John Kussell> and Lord Clarendon (then 
the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland) the advantage of keeping 
the £7,000,000 in Ireland, by letters in the Cork Reporter 
and the Dublin newspapers. Would it not have been con- 
sidered, then, great presumption and egotism on my part 
had I copied the mannerism of the Chancellor of the Ex- 
chequer, Mr. Disraeli, and said—" I will sit down now ; but 
the time will come when you will hear me"* I avoided 
the rocks and breakers ahead, confident that, if I 
lived a few years, my feeble bark would then find its way 
through the tide of difficulties and dangers into smooth water. 
Has not the few years (in number thirteen), told the tale. 

I shall not now dwell on the loss that Ireland has sustained 
in her agricultural and manufacturing resources, from the 
apathy of the representatives of the people of Ireland. 
MJP.'s can dictare terms to ministers if they will, and I 
ask those concerned in the agricultural and manufacturing 
interests seriously to consider their position and disadvantage 
now, from the decrease in growing Flax. It has been a 
heavy national loss. By the government reports 35,800 tons 
of Flax were grown in 1854, and it fell off to 14,475 tons 
in 1856. To avoid this calamity I have spent time and 
money from 1843 up to this December, 1858, being the 
unpaid advocate of a more extended cultivation of Flax, not 
only in Ireland, but in Great Britain. I felt confident that 
earnest endeavours in demonstrating the national advantages 
which must accrue to Ireland and England, must have 

* I cannot but now look back to my expressed opinions in 1851 — thirteen 
years ago — with some pleasure, because of my having repeated the same in 
1858, and now seeing such proof in 1864 that I was right, and that Flax can 
be had for 5d. to 6d. per lb., whilst cotton stands from Is. 6d. up to 2s. 6d. 
per lb. in our Liverpool markets. I think I should now have my feeble bark 
in the anticipated smooth water, even if I should be obliged to call on a 
government pilot, a man not easily got, unless through the rich and influential. 



246 



DICKSON ON FLAX- CULTURE IN INDIA 



the effect of arousing attention in the minds of her philan- 
thropic sons, and must result in the cultivation of a larger 
breadth of Flax than has yet been sown. 

London, November 13th, 1864. 
As this article on Flax-culture in India was compiled 
in 1859, when Flax got up to all but double the price 
it was in 1855, because of the falling off in Ireland from 
that time for three or four years, in consequence of the war 
with Russia, wet seasons, and other causes that I shall 
name, it will be seen I continued to hold fast to my opinion, 
as to the necessity for Great Britain and Ireland extending 
their acres to Flax cultivation at home, and I must now, in 
November 1864, respectfully ask the reader to turn back to 
page 89 or Letter II. in this work, addressed to the <c Editor 
of Eddoiue's Journal, May 31st, 1845," where I plainly tell 
the landowners that a time will come when the Manchester 
cotton-mill owners may be found in the same position as the 
cotton-mill owners were at one time in Belfast; obliged to 
turn out their old cotton machinery, and turn to Flax- 
spinning. Fortunately for Ireland, the American war must 
put an end to slavery, and cotton will never in our dav 
be sold below 7 one shilling per lb., therefore, ' ' England's w^ant 
of cotton," is Ireland's opportunity for gaining an addi- 
tional market for her Flax, if she will not spin it, and 
as Flax can be grown and sold at 6d. per lb., or £56 per 
ton, and will pay the grower better than oats, now is their 
time to place the ancient linen-trade of Ireland in the high 
position it held previous to the peace in 1815, when cotton 
crept in at a figure, (Is. 6d. per lb.) that soon cut out 
linen fabric, unless for shirt-fronts, collars, and wristbands, 
from the English as well as the continental markets, and 
as I have evidence of the fact that it can be spun, 
and has been slivered for me, and spun as well as cotton, 
on the existing cotton machine^, by spinners who could not 



AND DECREASE OF FLAX-CULTURE IN IRELAND. 247 



tell what they were spinning whether it was Rheea fibre, hemp, 
or Flax. It matters not to farmers, how or on what machinery 
it is spun, for if a market be created in Liverpool extra 
to the great markets in Belfast and Leeds, so much the 
better for their interest, as Lancashire could spin treble, if not 
five times more than it is possible for Ireland to produce, if it 
be cottonized by my liquid process and machines. 

I beg further to remark, in reference to my views in the 
year 1845, on the necessity of increasing Flax-culture, 
especially in Ireland, that I had such views greatly 
strengthened by the visit for one month of a relation of 
.mine at my house in De Beauvoir Square in 1847, Dr. 
Corbett, nephew of my cousin, Dr. Samuel H. Dickson, 
of Charlestown, South Carolina, and grandson of the late 
Bev. Dr. Nelson, who emigrated from the north of Ireland 
in 1798, and, as in our several conversations on the 
slave question he argued that Dr. Dickson's slaves 
were better off for food, drink, clothing, &c, than our 
factory hands, and made no secret of his views as to what 
was likely to take place between the Northern and Southern 
States of America, and that in case of any rupture that 
Manchester would be in names from want of cotton. I 
from that moment took a more firm view of the object of 
increase of Flax, because I had been an eye-witness of 
the Manchester riots in 1842, when there was comparatively 
little to rouse the evil passions of the workpeople, and hoping 
to see the ancient linen-trade of Ireland again at the head 
of our export list of manufactures. I am now convinced, and 
it is evident that if the owners of property in Ireland will 
do their duty to their tenants, Flax fabric must get a hold 
Once more on the feelings of the country in preference to 
cotton for house purposes, because of its cheapness and its 
durability compared with cotton. 

The expressed opinions of my friend and relative, Dr. 



248 



DICKSON ON FLAX-CULTURE IN INDIA 



Corbett, who appeared to be thoroughly acquainted with the 
history of his country, and the debates on the slave and other 
questions in Congress, which lead to the chances of the separa- 
tion of the Southern States from the Northern, impressed my 
mind, year after year, in the belief that the Indian fibres, 
which turned up so fine in my hands, as well as Flax, 
would, in case of a scarcity of cotton, come in for many 
purposes into the industry of Lancashire ; and now, if our 
Irish M.P.'s can be brought to see their duty to the farmers 
and starving labourers, whose wages in some districts 
average 8d. per day, and some Is., and none above Is. 6d., 
Irish Flax will be made to cut cotton out of the trade of 
Lancashire for house purposes, such as sheetings, table-cloths, 
towellings, shirtings, &c, as cotton cloths are only superior 
for outer garments for printing for female wear, whilst 
Flax for every other purpose is cheaper and more durable. 

As Lord Wodehouse has now accepted the appointment 
of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (as successor of the Earl of 
Carlisle, who did little, if anything in his time, towards 
promoting Flax-culture in Ireland), we must hope to see 
that his excellency will not give ear to the old, used-up 
(Castle) dictators, but use his own superior judgment, in 
planning how he may promote the employment of the people 
by working up the productions of the soil, to the highest 
state of value and perfection for exportation, and as a great 
increase in Flax cultivation has taken place this year, a 
matter created by the progressive moves on the part of 
landowners, we must hope that his excellency will see the 
necessity of forwarding the movement by having the so-called 
but absurdly named workhouses turned into factories, with 
machinery to prepare Flax for the farmers, a matter recom- 
mended by one of the most benevolent and patriotic nobles- 
men in Ireland, the Marquis of Downshire — (see page 129) — 
when president of the Belfast Flax Society, at one of the 



AND DECREASE OF ELAX-CULTURE IN IRELAND. 249 



public dinners of that very excellent association, whose 
labours were of the highest importance to the spinners and 
manufacturers, and of the greatest benefit to Flax-growers 
in Ireland. Such will be a stepping stone to the solid rock 
foundation on which Ireland's greatness, as a producing country 
of manufacturing material, may be built, and never had any 
viceroy such an opportunity of seeing a work in its infancy 
so successfully finished as his excellency Lord Wodehouse 
now has, for it is altogether in his power to so forward the 
increase in Flax cultivation that Ireland may become the 
nurse of the 100,000 now out of employment in Lancashire 
until their children, not in arms, but now in 1864 returning 
from school wanting a dinner, will talk of the year that Lord 
Wodehouse, having placed Lancashire cotton-spinners inde- 
pendant of cotton, as the only article they could spin on (as 
they call it) the existing machinery of Lancashire. 

The cry has always been want of machinery, but if 
machinery be once started to work, and that farmers know, 
they can have their material sold off at once, or made market- 
able on their own account. Flax will be brought in as a 
standing crop in the course of rotation, and will be called (as 
it is in Belgium and Holland) the rent paying crop in 
Ireland. 



PART IV 



A short sketch of the early history of the spinning of Flax and weaving of it 
into linen cloth ; its condition in the reign of Henry VIII., and subsequently 
in the reign of William III., when Ireland was left in possession of the linen 
trade, with £20,000 annually voted by parliament for a century, to stimulate 
and extend it, — and a short account of the progress of the Flax-yarn spinning, 
and the linen manufactures of Ireland down to 1828, when the first E lax- 
spinning factories were built by^, those spirited and enterprising firms, the 
Messrs. Mullhollands, Messrs. Herdman and Co., Messrs. Hind and Co., 
Messrs. Boyd and Co., of Belfast, who were then all connected, and stood, as 
they do now, at the head of the Flax-spinning trade in Ireland — An 
Antiquarian's account of the textile fabrics of the ancients — Flax, Cotton, 
and New Zealand Flax climates, &c. — Comments (by the Author) on the 
Leeds Flax -spinners — Sketch of the history of Flax-spinning in Leeds read 
before the " British Association," in which the decrease of the growth of Flax 
in Ireland was unnoticed, to the injury of the manufacturing and agricultural 
trade of the country — A falling off of from 35,600 tons grown in 1854, to only 
14,475 tons in 1856; thus creating a national loss — A short history of Dundee, 
and the importance of the Flax-trade in that town explained — The profits of 
the linen and Flax-trade of Ulster held up as an example to Connaught, and 
the vile agitators who, by setting class against class, have prevented Connaught 
becoming like Ulster, prosperous and happy, held up to contempt by the real 
friends of Ireland — A short sketch of the hist ory of Flax from the reign of 
King William HI., by a linen bleacher, with additions by the Author, quoting 
Buffon on inventions, from which pleasure, like comfort in affliction, may be 
derived, all of which the Author proves, by quotations from the most learned 
authorities, and particularly from his own very dear-bought experience, to a 
brief sketch of which he invites attention, as it will be found profitable to all 
inventors or patentees ; inasmuch as the astounding facts set forth may warn 
them to steer clear of those "Kocks ahead!" on which the Author's unfor- 
tunate " Patent Bark " has been more than once nearly shattered to pieces. 

Sacked History tells us that, in the earliest periods of 
the world, Egypt was distinguished for science, manufactures, 
and civilization. We are told that Moses was learned in all 
the wisdom of the Egyptians. There was the school in 




DICKSON ON THE HISTORY OF FLAX-CULTURE. 251 



which all the early Greek philosophers — Pythagoras, Thales, 
Solon, and Lycurgus were instructed, and that we are in 
debted for most of our present knowledge to the Egyptians 
we cannot dispute; for they instructed the Greeks, who in 
their turn through the Romans handed down knowledge 
to us. 

The Egyptian kings lived in such opulence and ruled with 
such power, that the stupendous and magnificent works 
they executed, are regarded to this day as the wonder of 
the world. Some idea may be formed of their gigantic 
undertakings when we turn to the history of their immense 
canals and artificial lakes, made to receive the overflowings 
of the Nile. Their catacombs and subterranean vaults are 
of prodigious extent. The Labyrinth consists of twelve 
palaces, and 3,000 apartments of marble, all underground, 
and communicating with each other by innumerable passages. 
Above all the unequalled and stupendous pyramids, the 
largest of which sits on a base covering ten acres of ground, 
and measures obliquely, that is, from the base to the summit, 
700 feet; its perpendicular height is over 500 feet. By 
this people, and in the earliest stages of society, the art of 
spinning and weaving must have been invented, when those 
engaged in plantations and the labour of the fields discovered 
that the variation in climate required a change in clothing, 
as the skins of animals must have been too heavy for the 
East. Under these circumstances many would have recourse 
to experiments in order to form a suitable covering, and as 
in the Book of Genesis we read for purposes of clothing 
our first parents had recourse to the twisting of stems, or 
sewing of fig-leaves, the use of the finer fibre would, in all 
likelihood, be resorted to, and hence arise the early accounts 
of the fine linen of Egypt. 

From the sacred volume we learn that the cultivation of 
Flax formed a most important branch in the agricultural 



252 



DICKSON ON THE EARLY 



industry of Egypt, at a very early period. It is first 
mentioned in the description of the plagues by which the 
Egyptians were coerced into permitting the departure of 
the Israelites. Both the Flax and the barley crops suffered 
in the plague of hail ; " For the barley was in the ear, and 
the Flax was boiled. 1 ' This, incidentally, enables us to fix 
the time or season in which the plagues were inflicted ; for 
Flax in Egypt begins to boll, or flower, about the beginning 
of February. 

In ancient times, the spindle or distaff was the simple 
instrument used, and I believe it even yet continues to be 
used by the Hindoos in all its primitive simplicity. This 
mode of spinning gave way to the spinning wheel, which has 
also disappeared, to make room for admirable improvements 
in machinery for spinning Flax-yarns. 

Among the Egyptians as among our ancestors at no very- 
distant period, spinning was a domestic occupation in which 
ladies of rank did not hesitate to engage. The term 
(( spinster" is yet applied to unmarried ladies of every rank, 
and there are persons yet alive who remember to have 
seen the spinning-wheel an ordinary piece of furniture in 
domestic economy. Even so late as twenty years back, the 
wheel and loom were the common articles of furniture in 
almost every farmhouse in the north of Ireland, and fre- 
quently farmers had boys bound to them as apprentices, to 
learn the trade of a weaver; and it often happened that 
those farmers would have from two to six looms at work, and 
their daughters and sisters spun the yarns to keep them 
going ; now, those looms are all to be seen at work on machine 
yarns, and hand-spinning has all but disappeared. 

We find from the book of Joshua, that Flax was very 
anciently cultivated in Palestine ; for Rahab, the harlot of 
Jehrico, concealed the spies under the stalks of Flax, which 
she had laid to dry on the house-top. 



HISTORY OF FLAX IN EGYPT. 



253 



It is evident from the history of Sampson, that the cultiva- 
tion of Flax and the arts of spinning and weaving were 
practised by the Philestines ; but the Hebrews were essen- 
tially an agricultural people, equally averse to commerce and 
manufacturing industry. Solomon exerted himself to reform 
the national habits. He "established an emporium at Ezion- 
geber, to open a trading communication with the eastern 
seas, whilst his connection with the Tyrians enabled him to 
participate in me} commerce of the Mediterranean. He 
wished to make manufactured goods one part of his exports, 
by entering into a league with the reigning Pharaoh to 
receive linen-yarns at a stipulated price, or, as the words may 
be rendered at a fixed duty. This early example of a com- 
mercial treaty for regulating a tariff of intercourse, is curiously 
illustrated by the recent discoveries in Egyptian antiquities. 
We. find from them that the Pharaohs had very large 
spinning establishments, such as we should at present call 
factories, so that there was in the valley of the Nile not only 
enough yarn left for home-consumption, but also for exporta- 
tion. Had Solomon resembled our continental neighbours in 
Germany, who now threaten to increase the duty on our Flax 
yarns, although they cannot, for their own wants, spin by 
machinery, he would have shown a contracted mind on 
commercial matters ; but he was aware that protection would 
so enhance the price of yarns to his people, that they 
could not bring their goods into a foreign market and 
meet their rivals — just as matters are in our own times. If 
we increased the duty on Flax, our French neighbours, who have 
now commenced the spinning of yarns, would, in a short time, 
take from us our American and Indian trade ; therefore, our 
only hope is to try (as our soil and climate will answer for the 
cultivation of the plant), to grow what we can spin and 
manufacture ; and as English skill and perseverance are well 
known to be equal, if not superior to those of any nation in 



254 



DICKSON ON THE EARLY 



Europe, we cannot fail to progress in agriculture, any more 
than in commercial matters, or mechanical inventions. 

Although Egypt, as we have seen, appears to have been the 
country in which the manufacture of linens earliest commenced 
as a branch of national industry, yet in the age of Joshua, 
weaving establishments were found in the land of Shinar, and 
most probably in the chief city of that district, ancient 
Babylon. "A mantle of Shinar/' a " Babylonish garment," 
was secreted by Achan from the spoils of Jericho : and the 
delinquent speaks of it as the most valuable part of his 
plunder. Herodotus says, i 1 The Babylonians wear a gown of 
linen flowing down to the feet, over this an upper woollen 
garment, and a white tunic covering the whole." Such a 
dress, particularly the white tunic made of woollen, as the 
venerable historian seems to intimate, must have been too 
heavy for so warm a climate, particularly in summer ; and 
hence we may be led to suspect that Herodotus included 
vegetable and animal wood in his description, especially as we 
know from other authorities, that the cotton manufacture was 
established in Babylon at a very early period. 

Homer declares that the Theban Queen, Alcandra, pre- 
sented Helen with a silver work-basket as well as a golden 
distaff (Odyss. iv.) ; and from the paintings on ancient vases, 
we see that the calathi of ladies of rank were tastefully 
wrought and neatly ornamented. The Eomans called the 
female slaves employed in spinning quasillarice ; and these 
were regarded as the meanest in the household. 
T The material used for spinning was lapped loosely round the 
distaff; the flax being hackled by processes not very dissimilar 
to those used by our hacklers of the present day. The ball 
thus formed on the distaff required to be arranged with some 
neatnes and skill, in order that the fibres should be sufficiently 
loose to be drawn out by the hand of the spinner. Ovid 
declares that \ ' Arachne's skill in this simple process excited 



HISTORY OF FLAX-SPINNING. 



255 



the wonder of the nymphs who came to see her triumphs in 
the textile art, not less than the finished labour of the loom." 

The distaff was generally about a yard in length, commonly 
a stick or reed, with an expansion near the top for holding 
the ball; it was usually held under the left arm, and the 
fibres were drawn out from the projecting ball, being at the 
same time spirally twisted by the forefinger and thumb of the 
right hand. The thread so produced was wound upon the 
spindle, until the quantity was as great as it would carry. 

The spindle was made of some light wood or reed, and 
was generally from eight to twelve inches in length. At the 
,top of it was a slit or catch to which the thread was fixed, so 
that the weight of the spindle might carry the thread down to 
the ground as fast as it was finished ; its lower extremity was 
inserted in a whorl or wheel, made of stone, metal, or some 
heavy material, which both served to keep it steady and 
promote its rotation. The spinner, who was usually a female, 
every now and then gave the spindle a fresh gyration, by a 
gentle touch, so as to increase the torsion or twist of the 
thread. Whenever the spindle touched the ground a length 
was spun ; the thread was then taken out of the slit or clasp, 
and the thread just finished wound upon the spindle ; the 
clasp was again closed, and the spinning of a new thread 
commenced. 

Distaffs and spindles of this kind were commonly used in 
the Spanish Peninsula at a very recent period, and it is pro- 
bable that they may still be found in remote districts. They 
were also used by the peasantry in the west of Ireland, some 
of whom are known to be of Spanish descent. As the 
bobbin of each spindle was loaded with thread, it was taken 
off the whorl and placed in a basket, until there was a suffi- 
cient quantity for the weavers to commence their operations. 

The threads of the warp or longitudinal fibres, were always 
stronger than those of the weft or thread, shot through the 



256 



DICKSON ON THE 



warp by the shuttle. In general the Greeks and Romans 
used an upright loom, not unlike that of the ancient Egyp- 
tians, but more closely approaching the lightness and neatness 
the embroidering frames used by modern ladies in working 
Berlin wool. In fact, such a frame placed erect, having the 
warp thread wound on the upper bar and then passing the 
whole length of the frame to the lower bar, with leash rods 
somewhere about the centre to keep the alternate threads of the 
warp seperate, would be no inadequate representation of a 
Roman loom of the upright kind. The weaver, in working 
at this loom, was obliged to stand and move about in directing 
the shuttle, especially if the cloth to be woven exceeded a 
very moderate breadth. The horizontal loom to which 
weavers sit was, indeed, known in ancient times, but does not 
appear to be much used before the third or fourth century of 
the Christian era. In the Egyptian loom the process of 
weaving proceeded upwards, and the weft, after being shot 
through, was driven home by an iron bar. In most of the 
old Grecian and Roman looms, the process of weaving was 
downwards, and the weft was driven home by an instrument 
called a spatha, which was similar to a wooden sword. In 
later times the spatha was superseded by a comb ; and this is 
the instrument still used by the Hindoos. In our looms the 
process of driving home the weft is effected by the reed, 
which is made from cane, and fixed in what are called slays, 
which work on an axle, and are pulled to by the hand with 
a double Moid, if strong goods are required; and a single 
stroke if light goods are wished for, such a cambric, &c. 

Having alluded to the contrivances by which the female 
Egyptians of the highest rank produced Flax-yarns and fine 
linens, we must not forget that in Britain the distaff and loom 
have been also used by females of the highest rank. The 
daughters of King Edward the Elder were regularly in- 
structed in spinning and weaving ; and the immortal Alfred, 



WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE IN ENGLAND. 257 



in his last will, describes the females of his family as, " the 
spindle side." 

It seems probable, judging from the illuminations of ancient 
manuscripts, that the Saxons made more use of woollen than 
of linen ; indeed, an old legendary tale preserved in the col- 
lection of the brothers Grimm, represents the spinning of 
Flax as a most extraordinary acquirement, which was not to 
be thoroughly gained but by supernatural assistance. It is 
singular that the same legend should also be found at one 
time in Ireland. 

On reference to history, I find that wool was the most 
important article of British produce ; and the Plantagenet 
monarchs endeavoured to secure for themselves a large share 
of the profits arising from it, by forbidding it to be bought or 
sold in any market except the staple towns. In 1261 the 
barons, enraged at the partiality which Henry III. showed to 
the French connection of his queen, passed a law prohibiting 
the export of wool, and ordering that no woollen clothes 
should be worn except such as were woven at home. Little 
cloth was made in England, and that only of the coarsest 
description, until Edward III., in the year 1331, invited over 
from Flanders, weavers, dyers, and fullers to settle in England, 
promising them his protection and favour, on condition that 
they would carry on their trades here, and teach the know- 
ledge of this branch of manufacture to his subjects. 

In the reign of Henry VIII., not more than a century after 
its introduction, the woollen manufacture had thriven so well 
that it was made to contribute to the revenue, and we were 
enabled to compete with the nations by whom we had been 
taught it. It appears, however, that little progress was made 
until the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when the persecution of 
the Protestants in France, and more especially in Flanders 
drove many eminent manufacturers to seek refuge in England, 
where they were graciously received by Queen Elizabeth. 
R 



258 



DICKSON ON ELAX-CULTURE 



She passed an act relieving the counties of Somerset, 
Gloucester, and Wilts from old oppressive statutes, which 
confined the making of cloth to corporate towns ; and trade, 
thus permitted to choose its own localities, began to flourish 
rapidly. In 1582, England exported 200,000 pieces of cloth. 
In this reign also the English merchants, instead of selling 
their goods to the Hanseatic and Flemish traders, began 
themselves to export, to the great annoyance of their foreign 
neighbours. 

In the reign of James I., it was calculated that nine- 
tenths of the commerce of the kingdom consisted in woollen 
goods. Most of the cloth was exported raw, and was dyed 
and dressed by the Dutch, who gained, it was pretended, 
£700,000 annually by this manufacture. English commerce 
increased under the Commonwealth, but with the Restoration 
came prohibitions which caused some thousands of manufac- 
turers to emigrate to the Palatinate, and a slow progress of 
the woollen manufacture was the result. The demand from 
America and the West India colonies caused a reaction, and 
the example of the cotton manufacturers induced the woollen 
traders to direct their attention to machinery. Since that 
period, the manufacturer has gradually improved, and instead 
of being ruined, as seemed all but certain in 1782, our 
exports of woollen cloth averaged between £6,000,000 and 
£7,000,000 in value. 

At this time the linen-trade was of little value in England, 
and parliament made a present of it to the people of Ireland ; 
and during the reign of William III., there was a feeling on 
the part of the Parliament, which prevented the encourage- 
ment of the Irish in the manufacture of woollens in opposi- 
tion to England, but to leave them in possession of the linen- 
trade, which appeared more suited to that country. 

Many circumstances contributed to render the linen-trade 
limited and precarious in Ireland. The people, except in 



AND MANUFACTURE IN IRELAND. 



259 



Ulster, were little acquainted witli Flax-culture, nor could 
they otherwise than slowly, in the course of years, acquire 
knowledge in a new trade, which we know to be difficult to 
manage ; and as the importation of seed was a heavy expense, 
and few capitalists would venture in such a business, this 
circumstance, added to partial failure in the crops, proved 
discouraging However, large sums were awarded by the 
" Irish Parliament" in premiums to encourage its cultivation, 
and a public board, called the Linen Board, was constituted 
for the improvement of the linen manufacture, with an annual 
grant of £20,000, which was voted to it by Parliament for 
upwards of a century. 

This board appointed inspectors to various districts, whose 
duty it was to give instruction to those who might be desirous 
of receiving it ; Flax-seed was also provided for those whose 
character for industry, and having land adapted for its 
cultivation, were a recommendation ; and premiums were 
offered for the best crop, according to the quantity of ground 
sown. At this time the spinning and weaving of Flax were 
more the object of the farmer than the profit by its cultiva- 
tion if he brought it to market, as it occupied the female 
branches of his family through the whole year in the various 
processes of ' scutching and spinning ; and weaving it into 
linen employed the men-servants and sons of the small 
farmers, in days when work in the fields could not be 
followed up. A web, or piece of linen containing fifty-two 
yards, was the work of a man from sixteen to eighteen days ; 
and at that time the weaver could have for his labour often 
2s. 4cl. to 2s. 8d. per clay. The cultivation and manufacture 
of this useful vegetable, through its different stages, afforded 
remunerative employment to the small farmers and labourers 
in the north of Ireland, and may be regarded as being, in a 
great degree, the means of promoting the industrioua habits 
and general intelligence of the inhabitants of the province of 



260 



DICKSON ON 



Ulster : but it is to be regretted that the Linen Board, when 
the large sum of £20,000 per annum was at its disposal, did 
not direct their attention to the proper method for cultivating 
the Flax-plant; as the management of the crop at that time 
in the most favoured districts, when compared with con- 
tinental Flax, was seen to be of a very inferior quality and 
wretchedly defective. Indeed the profits were so considerable 
to those who grew and manufactured Flax into linen that 
without considering whether it could not be further increased, 
the farming and manufacturing population in the north of 
Ireland, when their productions became subject to competi- 
tion with the linen produce of Belgium and Brelefeld, found 
that they could not maintain their position, and as a 
consequence, from the peace in 1815, the growth of Flax and 
amount of the linen-trade continued to decrease in Ireland ; * 
and it is a well-known fact that it has been entirely owing 
in the first place, to the liberal credit of the English Flax- 
spinners, Messrs. Hives and Atkinson, Messrs. Benyon and 
Co., and other spinners in Leeds ; with Messrs. Benshaw 
and Co., and Messrs. J. Kaye and Sons, of Manchester, that 
an improvement took place in the linen-trade in Ireland. 
Mr. Thomas Kaye told me he had considerable up-hill work 
to persuade some Irish weavers to make a trial in the weaving 
of his first sample of Flax-yarns spun by machinery, solely 
from the prejudice then against machinery, expecting that it 
would, as it has done, put an end to hand-spinning. 

English spinners of Flax-yarns were obliged to offer the 
Irish linen manufacturers, then a very limited body, six 



* The cotton rags of Manchester got then introduced; the raw material 
c otton was then Is. 6d. per lb. 3 and year after year spinning extended until 
the price became so low for cotton cloth that Irish linen was cut out of the 
English market. As Flax-spinning by hand made linen cloth so high in price 
compared with cotton, the linen trade suffered great reverses for thirteen years. 
[More on this subject in another place."] 



FLAX-SPINNING IN IRELAND. 



261 



months credit in order to introduce their yarns and do away 
with the objections to an article of which they knew a single 
trial would establish the value, as the weaver who required 
sixteen or eighteen days to make a fifty-two yard piece of 
goods from hand-spun yarns, could now turn out a similar if 
not a better piece from mill-spun yarns, in half the lime. 

The superiority of mill-spun yarns soon became known; 
and the first house in Ireland that appeared alive to the Flax- 
spinning trade was that of Messrs. T. and A. Mulholland, of 
Belfast. A large factory of theirs being consumed by fire 
in 1828, they made their arrangements to rebuild their 
premises, and turn their attention to the spinning of Flax. It 
is needless for me to mention the extraordinary success of 
those spirited and enterprising men, as their worth and 
position in society bear witness to the fact; their name as 
spinners of yarns and manufacturers of linens, is well-known 
in every town and city on the Continent, and indeed, I may 
say in every part of the globe, as being the most extensive 
house in that branch of trade in Ireland. I think it super- 
fluous to do more than say, that their mills and machinery 
are inferior to none in England, and their system of manage- 
ment reflects credit on them as men of business. This firm 
has been the means of doing much to regain a trade that was 
all but lost to Ireland. As to the good results to the farmers 
in the north of Ireland ; the improved appearance of the 
country, and the many superior mansions, with bleach w r orks 
and factories, since 1828, must convince the owners of the 
soil of the great employment the cultivation of Flax must 
give. Without this valuable plant be encouraged, many 
water-wheels and steam-engines on their estates would be 
idle, and many thousands of their tenantry, who are now 
well able to pay their rents, would be in arrears. Let us 
fancy those spinners, who have now increased from one in 
1828, to above fifty in 1858, to be obliged to impor^ 



262 



DICKSON ON THE HISTORY 



£1,000,000 sterling of Flax from Eussia and Holland, 
and to pay down this sum in hard cash, and we may 
fancy the farmers in the north are in a much better condition 
than those in the south and west of Ireland, where 
dwell, if we believe the reports of the Times commissioner, 
few landowners or merchants that ^possess a spirit of 
enterprise. 

I shall conclude my observations on the cultivation of 
the Flax plant, and the benefit derived by the farmers and 
working classes from the demand for this staple article; but, 
before I do so, I think I may ask the British farmers to take 
another look at our continued increase of importation in this 
article, notwithstanding Ireland now grows so much for her 
own use. Look at our imports in 1839, 60,805 tons; in 
1842, 55,113 tons; in 1844, 79,791 tons; and in 1856, 
84,352 tons. Again, look to the importance and acknow- 
ledged benefit of linseed-cake, an article that you now cannot 
get pure, or free from adulteration, even at an advanced price. 
If the landowners and farmers in the south and west of 
Ireland are men without nerve, or spirit of enterprise, and 
prefer to see contentedly their shamrock hills doomed (like 
the peasantry) to poverty, it does not follow that you must 
imitate their example. You can grow Flax equally as well 
as the Dutch, and better than Eussia; therefore I call on 
you, one and all, to think of the millions you may keep at 
home by its production. 

To give a just idea of legislation in 1750, I would call 
attention to the following fact. Cotton yarns could not be 
used as icarp, and therefore large quantities of linen yarns 
were imported from Ireland, Scotland, and Germany ; and 
the linen manufacturers of Ireland complained of the yarns 
being bought up at a high price out of their hands by the 
agents to be sent to Manchester. It was even proposed in 
the Irish parliament to lay a prohibitory duty on the export 



OF HAND-SPINNING OF FLAX. 



263 



of linen yarns, which the reports of the Linen Board in 
Dublin declared to have incieased "in a, most alarming manner " 
The quantity of linen yarns sent from Ireland to England 
that year was no less than 2,489,782lbs. The writer of the 
article adds, " The legislators of that day performed so many 
odd freaks, that it is a subject of surprise how the Irish Par- 
liament escaped the blunder of prohibiting a demand for the 
industrial produce of the Irish people." 

The importance of Flax-spinning by hand is so well known 
in Germany that a writer says, when speaking of Bohemian 
women, ''In this part of Germany every female, from the 
maid-servant to her mistress, has a spinning-wheel ; and 
there is no good house-wife in Bohemia who would not con- 
sider herself disgraced, if she did not spin within her estab- 
lishment all the yarn required to make the linen articles 
necessary for her household." A similrr feeling existed in 
Ireland while spinning by hand was practised, but the 
spinning frame and steam-engine has revolutionised the 
linen-trade, and now power-loom supersedes old hand-loom 
weaving. 

Having made a few remarks on the Flax-spinning in 
Ireland, Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Scotland, I feel certain 
that an article which appeared in the London Daily News, 
on the 14th of September last, will be found equally in- 
teresting, if not more so, than the dry statistics of the York- 
shire spinners :~ — 

TEXTILE FABRICS OF THE ANCIENTS— LINEN. 

A letter on the preparation of Flax so as to reseinb]e 
cotton, which we (Daily News) published recently, has elicited 
from an antiquarian correspondent the following curious and 
interesting resume of what is known respecting the textile 
fabrics of the ancients : — 

"Your correspondent's reference to the clothing of the 



264 



DICKSON ON THE FLAX 



Assyrian gods carries us back to a period when fine linen 
occupied a proud station amang textile fabrics. The Greeks 
and Romans are but moderns when compared with the 
Egyptians and Assyrians. The fashions of Pharaoh's court, 
and the luxury cf Sardanapalus, bore little analogy to the 
stately extravagance of George IV.. or of Louis Quatorze. 
But unless, as Byron suggested, some future age should 
actually disentomb George IV r . and his courtiers, posterity 
probably will be puzzled as to Brussels lace with the same 
doubts which, perplex writers on ancient linen. When 
Lucius Lucullus invited his friends to supper in the Hall of 
Apollo, had he ashirt to his back? When lovely Thais 
inveigled the philosopher, had she a cambric handkerchief? 
The learned say that Alexander Severus was the first Emperor 
of Rome who wore a shirt, at least in our sense of the word, 
for everybody had an indusium. And here we are fairly 
plunged in the ambiguities of language, and we shall not 
easily emerge from them. The Roman subuenta, the under 
tunic, was made of linum. Was it linen or calico? Cur this 
uses linum of cotton and cotton cloth. In Yorkshire they 
call Flax 6 line ; we moderns have restricted the word e linen' 
to the fabric made from Flax. We may remark in general 
that the more deeply we dive into antiquity, the more com- 
pletely isolated we find mankind, in their arts and their 
luxuries, in their religion and their government. Clothing 
was one of the prime necessities of life, and different races of 
men have clothed themselves with various materials ; the 
Chinese kept silkworms, and from time immemorial have 
worn silk ; the natives of Hindostan cultivated the cotton tree, 
and consequently have worn calico ; the Syrian, the Iberian 
and the Gaul made garments of the skins of beasts ; nay, the 
Spaniard, and all that maritime population which dwelt on 
the shores of the Bay of Biscay, used leather for the sails of 
their ships, When Lucien, who was a Syrian, describes 



AND LINEN OF THE ANCIENTS. 



265 



Timon in his poverty, he dresses the misanthrope in a 
dipthera, or leathern garment. Linen would have been 
unsuited to the poverty of Timon. Thus, even to modern 
times, while mankind live apart, nations are distinguished 
by their clothing. The native fabric of Otaheite was the 
tappa, made from the bark of trees, but Queen Pomare, 
although, like Penelope, skilled in the indigenous manu- 
facture, preferred for herself an English cotton gown. At 
Manilla they make muslin from the fibres of the pine-apple ; 
in New Zealand Flax is in use, but the New Zealander does 
not employ the loom, he plaits the fibres into a square mantle 
for the chief. 

So it is everywhere ; the domestic production is cheap, the 
imported goods costly, and therefore valued. Thus linen, 
which so slowly made its way among the rugged Romans, was 
in more than one country the habiliment of females, of the 
luxurious, nay of the gods and their attendants. In the days 
of old Homer, the wife of Ulysses superintended the spinning, 
but it was wool which her maids spun. Doubtless she had 
linen among her stores, but it was linen imported from Egypt, 
with which a trade already existed. Whether Penelope had 
not even some calico may be doubted ; for, if cotton was not 
yet cultivated in Egypt, it was brought from the East in 
caravans. The wares of China have been found in the 
Pyramids, and a portion of those of India might have been 
there also. It is not at all unlikely that the rigging of the 
Grecian fleet which went to Troy was supplied from Egypt ; 
for, at a period long subsequent to that expedition, we find 
Egyptian sailcloth made from Flax enumerated among the com- 
modities , for sale in the Tyrian marts. (Ezekiel xxvii. 7.) 
The manufacture of ropes from the same material is a 
frequently recurring subject of those truly immortal designs 
which illustrate Egyptian arts. 

Here we are then, on the early traces of the East Indian 



266 



DICKSON ON THE LINEN AND 



trade. It was carried on partly by ship's from the Malabar 
coast, and partly by caravans arriving at the Euxine Sea, or 
passing down through Syria to Eyre, or even to Egypt. In 
the age of Homer we find a Mediterranean trade in iron 
flourishing in full vigour. When Telemachus inquires of 
Mento whither he was bounds the goddess in disguise informs 
the prince that she was conveying iron to Brundusium, where 
she would take up a return cargo of copper. Doubtless 
the other goal of this voyage was on the coast of Pontus. 
The Chalybes, or Chaldeans, were famous for their iron,, 
whether they got it from the higher Asia or forged it them- 
selves. At all events this tract was one of those by which 
Asiatic goods found their way into Europe for centuries. In 
the age of Pliny, iron came from the Seres in company with 
wearing apparel and skins. But the earliest certain indication 
of the arrival of cotton in Europe is given by Herodotus* 
He relates the gift by Amesis, King of Egypt, to the 
Lacedemonians, of a linen corslet ornamented with gold and 
cotton, B.C. 556. The embroidery on this corslet, whether 
executed with the needle or the loom, was a triumph of 
Egyptian art. Devices of all kinds, more especially of a 
religious character, were produced by the Egyptian craftsmen, 
who wrought, according to Julius Pollus, with a warp of linen 
and a woof of cotton, or with coloured threads, or gold. 
According to Pliny, whose information as to their operations 
was most accurate, they were familiar with the use of 
mordants. "In Egypt," he says, "they produce coloured 
delineations with marvellous skill, not by applying the colours 
to the fabric, but drugs which take up the colour. After 
the drug is applied there is no visible result ; but the cloth, 
once plunged in the seething bath, is raised again partially 
coloured. And marvellous it is, when there is but one colour 
in the vessel, how a succession of hues is given to the robe, 
produced by the quality of the drug which calls them out ; 
nor can they be subsequently effaced by washing." 



COTTON OF THE ANCIENTS. 



267 



It was probably against this delineation of patterns ingrained, 
that the prohibition of the Mosaic law in Leviticus xix,, 19, 
and Deuteronomy xxii, 11, were directed. The Israelites 
were to be withheld from luxury ; that is the point of many 
of their institutions ; their strength consisted in their simplicity. 
But, moreover, they were to be preserved from the symbolism 
of Egypt. The embroidered representations of Egyptian gods 
were as hateful to Moses as the more permanent images in 
wood or stone. 

Here, then, we have arrived at the Flax-growing country. 
From Egypt the Greeks derived the manufacture of linen. 
But was all the linen which the Egyptians sold made from 
Flax? More than one author has gone the length of 
asserting that the linen garments of the Egyptian priesthood, 
no less than the mummy wrappers, were all cotton. This 
notion counts among its partisans the well-known names of 
Forster, of Tremellius, and of Dr. Solander. Rouelle, in the 
" Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciencies at Paris in 
1750/' says that "all the mummy cloths without resinous 
matter, which he had examined, were entirely of cotton; 
that the rags with which the embalmed birds are furnished 
forth, to give them a more elegant figure, were, equally with 
the others, cotton." "Was the Egyptian Flax-cotton after 
all?" he asks, " or was cotton consecrated by religion for the 
purposes of embalming?" The inquiries carried on at the 
British Museum led to the same conclusions as those arrived 
at by the Frenchman. But the more recent microscopical 
investigations of Bauer and Thompson have overturned all 
these speculations. The fibres of linen thread are said by 
these more recent inquirers to present a cylindrical form, 
transparent and articulated, or jointed like a cane, while 
cotton offers the appearance of a flat ribbon, with a hem or 
border at each edge. It has, indeed, been suggested that the 
ripeness of the cotton might affect the condition of the fibre, 



268 



DICKSON ON THE LINEN AND 



or that the ancient mode of treating the plant might give to 
the Egyptian Flax an appearance not presented by European 
specimens. Yet, although Philostratus expressly affirms that 
calico was exported from India to Egypt for sacred purposes, 
the balance of opinion has inclined to the belief that all the 
cere-cloths at least were of Flax. 

* As our inquiry leads us from the shores of Greece to the 
banks of the Nile, the language in which the subject of discus- 
sion is expressed is radically changed. In Egypt we are in 
contact with a Shemitic dialect. The Teutonic word ' ' linen " 
disappears. The Greek, in purchasing a foreign commodity, 
had learnt the word bussos, and he had given it to the Romans 
as " byssus." But in the Shemitic dialects we meet with 
half-a-dozen words which may all mean linen or cotton, and 
whose signification has been abundantly disputed. No doubt 
these words had originally different significations ; but even- 
tually they were all confounded together. The account of the 
corslet presented by Amesis, if there were no other evidence, 
would prove that the Egyptians had cotton under the Pharaohs. 
The very phrase for cotton, which we find in the mouths of 
the Greeks and Eomans — viz., "linen of the tree" or " woollen 
of the trees/' we find in the book of Joshua, ii., 6. But 
' ' byssus " seems to have been selected as the name of the 
material specially destined for sacred rites. It certainly is 
the term which Herodotus employs in speaking of the mummy 
wrappers. But had the father of history another word to use, 
intelligible at least to Greek ears? On the other hand, if 
bassos meant linon, why did he choose the foreign word? 
Byssus evidently had a special adaptation to his subject. That 
the Jewish byssus had a more yellow tint than the plant cul- 
tivated in Elis may be ioferred from a passage in Pausanias \ 
brut the etymology of the word leads us to surmise that the 
name implied peculiar brilliancy and whiteness. Theocritus, 
who enjoyed the favours of Ptolemy Philadelphus, and may 



COTTON OF THE ANCIENTS. 



269 



be supposed to know the appropriate name for the material 
used in Egyptian rites, represents one of his female characters 
as attending a procession to the grave of Artemis in a tunic 
of byssus. 

But if we are in doubt as to the native names for the various 
sorts of Egyptian linens, the mummy wrappers leave no 
uncertainty as to the excellence of the workmanship. The 
interior swaths are indeed coarse ; but some of the exterior 
bands vie with the most artistic productions of the modern 
loom. 

The peculiarity of the Egyptian structure is a great dis- 
parity between the warp and the woof; the warp generally 
containing three or even four times as many threads as the 
woof. This disparity probably originated in the difficulty of 
inserting the woof when the shuttle was thrown by hand. To 
give an idea of the fineness of the Egyptian muslins, we may 
remark that the yarns average nearly 100 banks to the pound, 
140 threads in the inch to the warp, and about 64 to 
the woof. Some of the cloths are fringed at the end, and 
remind us of the garments prescribed to the Jews in the 
Mosaic law. (Numbers, xv. 38.) Several specimens are 
bordered with blue stripes of various patterns. Had the 
patterns, instead of being confined to the edge, been extended 
across the structure, they would have formed a modern 
gingham. The Nubians at the present day rejoice in similar 
shawls. The dresses in the Egyptian paintings, descriptive of 
women of rank or of deities, resemble our chintzes. 

Such was the ancient linen, the staple commodity of Egypt. 
She exported it in Phoenician bottoms to the Mediterranean 
ports. It was not all made of Flax. Both Pliny and the 
Rosetta stone testify that the calico was in especial favour 
with the priesthood ; but their partiality for the more modern 
material was not strong enough to break through ancient 
customs. The experiment on the mummy cloths corroborate 



270 



DICKSON ON THE LINEN AND 



.all which we know of Egyptian conservatism. For religious 
purposes the Flaxan texture was rigidly demanded. 

So much was written in the Morning Chronicle upon Flax- 
cotton (Claussen's Patent) that I am not surprised to find a 
letter on the s abject should again appear in it ; but Mr. Bro- 
therton forgets that Flax is so much more valuable than 
cotton, and being double the cost, that it would be not unlike 
trying to turn gold into silver, to wash Flax by reducing it in 
length to cotton.* Again, he appears not to be aware that Mr. 
Bright, M.P., tried to spin for Claussen, and gave it up as a bad 
job, because of the short and long lengths in the staple. Claussen 
had all sorts of cutting machines, and all proved a failure/)" 
However, I shall give place to Mr. B.'s letter on the subject. 

COTTON AND FLAX. 

To the Editor of the e( Morning Chronicle." 
" Sir,— After reading your remarks on the Cotton Supply 
Association in a leading article in the Morning Chronicle, I 
am induced to solicit a small space in your valuable journal 
for a few further observations on that important fibre, Flax. 
It is a most extraordinary circumstance, and one that will be 
scarcely credited by succeeding generations, that the great and 
wealthy cotton manufacturing interest of the present age 
should spend so much time, labour, and money in the endea- 
vour to produce the fibre of cotton, and at the same time be 
satisfied to remain in perfect ignorance of what really is the 

* Such was my opinion in 1858 when writing the above, as the cotton was 
then so low as 4d. to 6d. per lb., and Flax of the lowest sort could not be had 
below 5d. per lb., then to that 3d. per lb. must be added to make it fine, elean, 
and soft, for cotton-spinners use, but now, as eotton is up to Is. 6d. and 2s. per 
lb., Flax must and' will come in to a great extent to take the place of cotton for 
household purposes. 

f This difficulty I have got over by my patented cottonizing machine, which 
makes the fibres the exact length for cotton spinning machinery now in u se, in 
1864. 



COTTON OF THE ANCIENTS. 



271 



true fibre that God himself (whose works are perfect) created 
wherewith man should be clothed, and for which it is well 
known that cotton is but an imperfect substitute. 

(i You did me the favour to publish a few remarks on the 
18th August last on the formation of the fibre of Flax and its 
treatment by the ancients. In my further experiments to 
obtain a perfect separation of the true fibres of Flax it resulted 
to be of importance first to extract from Flax-seed its gum, 
which is given off to water, and then compress the oil. This 
oil, when applied to the outer covering of the Flax plant, 
possesses a powerful affinity for, and unites with, the gum and 
oil that unites the true fibres, and that forms likewise a portion 
of the actual fibre of Flax at present employed in manufacture. 
After remaining in this oiled state a few hours, the whole 
extraneous substance is so softened that it washes away with 
water, leaving the most beautiful fibre about an inch long, 
white and brilliant as burnished silver, vastly superior to 
cotton. It can be produced by our farmers in the United 
Kingdom in sufficient quantity; giving at the same time 
abundant employment to our male and female rural population, 
increasing likewise the means of producing animal food for 
the people. 

" This is no new theory or great discovery, but one of great 
antiquity. The Assyrians had this fibre, as also other nations 
at subsequent periods. In 1747 France was occupied with its 
production, and in 1775 we find a Mr. T. B. Baily, of Hope, 
near Manchester, and Lady Moira, in Ireland, occupied in 
producing this same fibre under the name of Flax-cotton. It 
is stated that the fine fibres of Flax, when made to separate 
from each other, were carded with cotton cards and spun with 
cotton machinery, , and were sold at 3d. per pound. Lady 
Moira states in a letter to the Society of Arts, in the year 
above-named, 1 1 have no reason to be vain of the samples I 
have sent you, they merely show that the material of Flax- 



272 



DICKSON ON THE 



cotton in able hands will bear manufacturing, though it is my 
ill fortune to have it discredited by the artisans who work for 
me. I had in Dublin, with great difficulty, a gown woven for 
myself, and three waistcoats; but had not the person who 
employed a weaver for me particularly wished to oblige me, I 
could not have got it manufactured. The absurd alarm that it 
might injure the trade of foreign cotton had gained ground, 
and the spinners, for Avhat reason I cannot comprehend, de- 
clared themselves such bitter enemies to my scheme, that they 
would not spin for me. Such is my fate, that what between 
party in the metropolis, and indolence in this place (Ballyna- 
hinch), I am not capable of doing my scheme justice. I did 
wish to introduce among the people this invention, which 
I saw might be greatly improved, and turn the refuse of Flax 
into comfortable clothing, and by a process so easy that every 
industrious wife and child might prepare it.' The specimens 
of those fabrics, as well as of Flax-cotton prepared by her, 
which are preserved in the Museum of the Society of Arts, 
are remarkable for their beauty. 

"It is greatly to be regretted that the same prejudice pre- 
vails to a great extent to the present day, but if the Cotton 
Supply Association would turn their attention to this fibre, 
they would find that the English, Irish, and Scotch farmers 
can produce for them this Flax ready for carding, superior 
in quality, and at less cost and in greater ?tbundance, than 
they can obtain cotton from more distant parts of the world. 
Were this taken up with spirit, two years would be sufficient 
to strike a final death-blow to American slavery. 

"W. BRQTHERTON. 

"22, Maidstone Street, N.E/' 

Many attempts have been made from time to time to dis- 
cover the proper method of preparing New Zealand Flax 
(Phormiwn Tcnax), and the unvarying failures to accomplish 



HISTORY OF FLAX-CULTURE. 



273 



the object, makes the article of more interest than if it were 
easily prepared. I had, from the Society of Arts in London, 
one half hundred-weight, which I managed to break, scutch, 
and prepare by my patent machines and patent liquid 
process. I produced the fibre fit for spinning, all the gum or 
resin having been thoroughly removed. A description of the 
country and climate where the fibre is produced at about £12 
per ton, will doubtless be interesting to the reader. On the 
18th of February, 1859, I prepared some New Zealand Flax 
by machinery alone, and made it worth £80 per ton, from 
green straw; £15 per ton first cost, and even that price 
cannot be got for it in London, as imported ; but as the New 
Zealand government has very wisely adopted the only method 
to have the Flax introduced into the English market, by 
offering a reward of £4,000 to such inventors as may discover 
and produce machinery and a process of preparing it for 
market, I have no doubt, from my own experiments, that 
a great trade must in a short time be created in the article of 
Phormium Tenax, and consequently I think the following 
deserves insertion. 

NEW ZEALAND. 

The following extracts are taken from Mr. C. Hursthouse's 
New Zealand, published by Stanford, Charing Cross : — 

THE CLIMATE. 

"The climate of New Zealand has suffered from indis- 
criminate laudation. Feminine superlatives, such as ' nicest,' 
'finest/ ' loveliest,' 6 sweetest,' have been so lavished on it as 
to have obscured its true character, and its real unquestionable 
merits. In the sense in which we use such terms as fine, 
serene climate, there are many climates equal to that of New 
Zealand. Nay, if we limit the comparison to any one special 
month or season, we may perhans find climates which, 
S 



274 



DICKSON ON 



partially, are even finer. I have never experienced any month 
in New Zealand equal in settled splendour and sunny serenity 
to the Indian summer of America. I should fancy there is no 
entire season in New Zealand equal to the luxurious softness 
and young brilliancy of an Italian spring; and perhaps no 
whole month equal to a fine old English June. There is too 
much cloudy windy weather in New Zealand to entitle us to 
say that it has a sunny, serene climate, and the southern 
coasts are subject to storms of cold rain and furious wind 
(* Southerly Bursters'), which are probably equal in their way 
to anything in the world. 

"Nevertheless, the climate of New Zealand is substan- 
tially a good climate, and has not been so much over-praised as 
badlv praised. More frost, less wind and rain, would make it 
perfection ; but as it is, all this may be truly said of it — 
that it is a climate favourable alike to the preservation of 
robust health and to the improvement of weak health ; a 
climate most congenial to all pastoral and agricultural pur- 
suits ; one in which every English domestic animal thrives and 
fattens, and in which every English grain, grass, fruit, and 
flower attains full development and perfection. 

" No art can make a bad climate good, but art can make 
any climate better. The cultivation of a new country 
materially improves its climate. Damp and dripping forests, 
exhaling pestilential vapours from rank and rotten vegetation, 
fall before the axe, and light and air get in, and sunshine, 
ripening goodly plants. Fen and marsh, and swamp, the 
bittern's domains, fertile only in miasm, are drained, and the 
plough converts them into wholesome plains of fruit and grass, 
and grain. When Caesar's legions chased the painted savages 
along the shores of Kent, many a deadly Pontine marsh held 
the place of what is now a champaign country of orchards, 
corn, and cattle ; and the primeval climate of Albion probably 
mowed down more of the invaders than did the scythed 



NEW ZEALAND. 



275 



chariots of her woad-stained warriors. A few years since the 
ague was the scourge of my native swamps in Lincolnshire, 
and fen infants, like myself, were only preserved by copious 
cups of bark and wine. But now, reed and rush, and snake, 
and buzzard rat, and eel have vanished before the plough ; 
the ' reek o' the rotten fen' is gone, and the ague a tradition 
of the past. It is difficult to credit that the climate of Canada 
could ever have been more inclement than it now is, yet old 
greybeards of the bush tell us that sixty years ago Canadian 
winters were winters worthy of the Arctic zone. Settlement 
and cultivation will produce like effects in] New Zealand, so 
that we may plume ourselves on the thought, that if the 
climate be good now, it will be better ere long, and perfect for 
our posterity. 

SCENERY OF NEW ZEALAND. 
"The natural scenery of New Zealand is both bold and 
beautiful, though to an English eye, accustomed to trim 
fields, clipped edges, and to the smooth-rolled, finished look 
of every acre in England, it would frequently appear more 
bold than beautiful. Indeed, many a district would strike the 
Norfolk farmer, or the Cockney sketcher, whose ideal of 
beauty was the Holkham turnip field or the highlands of 
Hampstead, with far more of amazement than delight. The 
scenery we admire in England is often the costly coat of art, 
rather than the primeval dress of nature. As regards polish 
of cultivation, the garden's glories, the plough's court robes, 
New Zealand is much in the state that Britain was when 
Csesar landed ; and if Caesar's Britain could now be shown 
us, many a bright champaign country which we call beautiful 
would vanish, to reveal the gloomy forest and the repulsive 
rugged waste. 

Bearing in mind the extent of the country ; that the land 
is equally verdant and leafy through summer and winter; that 



276 



DICKSON ON 



the bright breezy light-and-shadow casting character of the 
climate is peculiarly favourable both to the display and to the 
enjoyment of scenery ; I think we may say that in the com- 
bination of those great natural features which constitute the 
foundation of fine scenery, New Zealand is unsurpassed by 
any country in the world. She displays noble forests, snow- 
capped mountains shooting up 10,000 feet from a sea of green 
and wooded, up to the line of snow, tracts of rolling cham- 
paign country dells, valleys, rivers, and rivulets innumerable, 
and 3,000 miles of bay and ocean coast. 

" New Zealand, too, with all these elements of fine scenery, 
this stock of f raw beauty/ is a fertile cultivable country, 
where plough, sickle, and mill would singularly enrich and 
brighten the landscape. The plough could not improve the 
natural beauty of a country like the Scottish highlands, because 
the Scotch highlands are not peculiarly plocghable ; and the 
plough, if every ploughman were a Mechi, could not create the 
* beautiful 5 in a country like the Lincolnshire fens, or the 
plains of Belgium. But in a wild, fertile, woody country, 
more resembling a combination of Derbyshire and Devonshire, 
it is evident that cultivation would singularly improve the 
beauty of the scenery. 

"Picturesque sites and sheltered nooks for hamlet, tower, 
and town, homestead, cottage, and castle, are multitudinous in 
New Zealand, and when cultivation has given colour to the 
landscape, and contrast to the universal background of green ; 
when the hills are more dotted with sheep, and the valleys 
more golden with corn ; when the pheasant whirrs from the 
brake, and the fox bursts from the cover, New Zealand will 
offer a thousand views which even a Turner might cross the 
seas to paint. 

THE MAORI, OR NATIVE ISLANDER. 
"By superficial observers who have had only slight means of 
judging, the New Zealanclers have been both over-rated and 



NEW ZEALAND. 



277 



under-rated. The enthusiastic 6 missionary smitten * visitor 
has entered a picked village, and boldly proclaimed them a 
noble people, equal to the highest career : the ' anti-aborigines' 
visitor has entered another village, and denounced them as 
greedy savages, fit only for extirpation, The good qualities 
of the Maori have however, been far more over-rated than 
under-rated. Captivated by his bravery, we have forgotten 
his ferocity ; charmed with his missionary conversion, we have 
excused his mercenary cunning ; and dazzled with his aptitude 
for civilization, have not cared to see his lingering inherent 
fondness for barbarism. Towards him it has not been 
nothing extenuate or ought set down in malice,' but 1 be to 
his virtues very kind, and to his failings very blind.' 

■ ' In their present state of semi-civilization (but assuming 
that farther civilization will educe more good than bad 
qualities) I should call the Maori race artful, over-reaching, 
suspicious, and designing; singularly mercenary and un- 
grateful ; and still somewhat passionate, capricious, and 
revengeful ; but not dishonest, generally merry and good- 
humoured, high-spirited, and (to each other) neither un- 
generous nor unkind ; sensitive of ridicule, but fond of a joke, 
inquisitive, and so femininely communicative as to be incapable 
of keeping even a life secret. 

In natural intellect they are undoubtedly 'equal to any 
European race. Indeed, I think (with a good teacher) a 
Maori child would learn to read and write more quickly than 
an English child ; and if an average Maori boy and an average 
English boy of fifteen were apprenticed to a carpenter, both 
having equally good masters, and both equally fond of their 
pursuit, I think the young New Zealander would turn out his 
sash or his panel-door sooner than the young Anglo-Saxon. 
The missionary "schools in the settlements, and the branch 
native-conducted schools in the interior, have been very 
successful in teaching the rudiments of knowledge. The 



278 



DICKSON ON THE 



Bible has long been a familiar book among the natives; 
'Robinson Crusoe' and one or two other little works have 
been translated ; a Maori periodical and a Maori newspaper 
circulate among them; and geography, simple and even 
fractional arithmetic, are becoming rather popular studies." 

ON THE FLAX MANUFACTURE IN YORKSHIRE. 

BRITISH ASSOCIATION, LEEDS, SEPTEMBER, 1858. 

A sketch of the history of Flax-spinning in England, 
especially as deveivoped in the town of Leeds, by a Flax 
spinner, with additions by the author from his knowledge of 
the preparation of Flax and the yarn trade, and the manu- 
facture of all kinds of linen goods in Ireland, from 1820 
up to the year 1842, when he removed to London to set up 
as Flax agent, and carry out his views of improved machinery 
for the preparation of Flax, and some remarks on the 
decrease in Flax-culture in Ireland, and the Flax-spinning 
trade in Dundee. 

The Leeds Flax-spinner says, "There is, perhaps, no 
branch of our principal manufactures, except that of cotton, 
in which the introduction of machinery and the factory system 
has produced more remarkable changes than in that of 
Flax-spinning, and as the town of Leeds is the place where 
this new branch of industry first took root in England, and 
was successfully carried out upon a considerable scale, and 
the place which has hitherto taken the lead in the successsive 
improvements introduced into the trade, it may l>e interesting 
to the section to have a short sketch of the origin and 
progress of Flax-spinning brought before them while they 
are here. The first essay in Flax-spinning in Leeds was 
made at a small mill driven by water, called Scotland Mill, 
about four miles from Leeds, by my late father, John 



HISTORY OF THE ELAX TBADE. 



279 



Marshall, in partnership with Samuel Fenton, of Leeds, 
and Ralph Durham, of Knaresborough. This was in 1788 
or 1789. The wonderful success and large profits attending 
the introduction of Arkwright's invention into cotton- 
spinning had about this time attracted general attention to 
mechanical improvements applied to manufacturing purposes. 
The spinning of Flax by machinery was a thing much wished 
for by the linen manufacturers. It attracted the attention, 
amongst others, of Mr. Marshall, who was so strongly im- 
pressed with the advantageous field for invention and 
enterprise offered by Flax-spinning, that he devoted himself 
entirely to the new enterprise. It appears that some 
attempts at Flax-spinning had already been made on a small 
scale at Darlington and some other places, as the first spin- 
ning machines used at Scotland Mill were on a patent plan 
of Kendrew and Co., of Darlington. This did not answer ; 
experiments were made and a patent taken out for a plan of 
Matthew Murray's, the foreman of mechanics with Mr. Mar- 
shall. In 1791 a mill was built in Holbeck, Leeds, and at 
first driven by one of Savery's steam-engines in combination 
with a water-wheel, but in 1792 one of Bolton and Watt's 
steam-engines of 28-horse-power was put down. In 1793 
there were 900 spinning spindles at work. We may take 
this small item as our first statistical datum of Flax-spinning 
in Leeds. I may here describe an important difference 
between the state in which the raw material, Flax, is presented 
to the spinner, and that in which cotton wool or silk i s 
found previous to being manufactured. The fibres of cotton 
wool and silk are supplied by nature already in their purest 
state of sub-division, they require merely to be straightened 
and formed into a continuous thread. In raw Flax, on the 
other hand, the ultimate fibres, which are very fine, are 
united by a gummy matter into broad strips or ribands, and 
a very operose process called heckling is required to sub-divide 



280 



DICKSON ON THE HISTORY OE 



the material into finer fibres before the spinning process can 
begin. In the earlier stages of Flax-spinning this prepara- 
tory process was performed entirely by adult men called 
hecklers. As soon as the Flax-spinning by machinery began 
to increase considerably, the demand for the labour of the 
hecklers enabled them to obtain high wages ; as much as two 
guineas a week, if they worked, and as they were combined 
in trades' unions, and enforced the old limitations on the 
number of apprentices, they became possessed of a species of 
monopoly extremely troublesome and prejudicial to the pro- 
gress of the trade. In fact, no large extension or well 
organised system was practicable so long as this barrier 
remained on the threshold. A patent for a heckling machine 
by which this process could be performed without the assist- 
ance of adult labour was taken out in the name of Matthew 
Murray, about 1805. Its introduction was resisted at first by 
the men with much violence and intimidation, but being 
firmly persevered in, it became an established portion of the 
system. It was introduced gradually into general use in the 
trade, and had the effect of neutralizing the monopoly of the 
hand-hecklers without any sudden displacement of labour. 
The next step was the establishment of a good machine- 
making shop, for Flax machinery by Mr. Murray, which 
became the parent or precursor of many others, until Leeds 
became the seat of a very important branch of business in the 
machine-making line, chiefly for Flax-spinning. The system 
of Flax-spinning had now become firmly established and well 
organised, and made steady progress, but as yet was only 
applicable to the production of the coarser description of 
yarns up to No. 10, or 16 lea yarn, which was manufactured 
at Bamsley into the coarser description of linens. The 
material employed was almost entirely Baltic Flax. An 
improvement was next introduced into the processes called 
preparing, preceding the actual twisting of the fibres into a 



FLAX-SPINNING IN MANCHESTER. 



281 



thread in the spinning-machine ; this improvement consisted 
in drawing the fibres through fine heckles or gills instead 
of rollers, and this gave the means of producing much evener 
and finer thread, that is, up to 40 or 50 leas, and for these 
yarns the finer Flaxes of Flanders and Holland began to be 
used. This was about the year 1820, when this finer descrip- 
tion of yarn came into very extensive use in the manufacture 
of the finer and better sorts of drills, an important branch of 
the Barns! ey linen-trade. We now come to the introduction 
of a very important improvement in the spinning process as 
applied to Flax. I have adverted to the gummy matter 
.which in raw Flax unites or glues together the fine ultimate 
fibres into much coarser ones, and which it is the object of the 
heckling process to sub-divide by mechanical means. The 
division so effected can only be imperfect, and it was found 
that the fibres could be more completely separated by satu- 
rating the material with water, which dissolves or softens the 
gummy matter in the spinning-machine itself, when in the 
actual process of being drawn out and spun. There is a 
somewhat singular history attached to the origin and progress 
of this invention of wet spinning. During the great war 
between England and the first Napoleon, it became a 
leading object of his policy to exclude English manu- 
factures, and to encourage those of France. England 
had taken a decided lead in the cotton manufacture, but 
at that time, about the beginning of the present century, 
little had been done in England in applying machines 
to the linen-trade. The linen-trade of France has always 
been a very important branch of industry, linen being 
more extensively used by the bulk of the population 
in France than in England. Napoleon therefore wished, by 
encouraging the application of machinery to the linen-trade 
in France, to make it a rival to the cotton-trade of England. 
He offered a reward of a million of francs for the successful 



282 



DICKSON ON THE 



application of machinery to the spinning of Flax. This 
inducement brought forward Girard, who produced designs 
for a series of machines for preparing and spinning Flax, 
of great ingenuity and originality, including this plan of 
wet spinning. But what was the result, so far as the 
linen-trade of France was concerned ? Girard could find no 
one in France with the enterprise and capital requisite to 
perfect and apply his invention. He had to come to England 
— he had to come to the town of Leeds. A patent was 
taken out for his inventions in England, especially for the 
wet spinning, under the name of Hall, in 1816, and was 
taken up by Robert Busk, of Leeds. Mr. Busk put up a 
considerable quantity of machinery on this plan, and produced 
by it yarn much finer than that usually spun. But he kept 
the new plan to himself, it was not tried by others; but 
the improvements in the preparatory processes were not 
then sufficiently advanced to make fine spinning advantageous ; 
the plan did not answer commercially, and was given up and 
forgotten. In 1826, however, it was revived in the shape 
of a new patent with some modifications, by Mr. Kay, of 
Manchester. The validity of his claim to a new patent was 
disputed by the body of Flax-spinners, and set aside." 

On the validity of the claim of Mr. Kay for his patent for 
spinning Flax through hot water, I, J. H. Dickson, will not 
express an opinion, but this I do assert, as I was agent for him 
for several years from 1833, that he was the first man to produce 
yarn spun through hot water ; and I can well recollect 
Mr. James Kay telling me that he had to sit on the looms in 
Ireland with the weavers, and not only flatter them but pay 
them double wages to get them to weave the mill-spun yarns, 
the yarns being then all spun by hand spinning-wheels that 
were used for linen-cloth ; and I must here confess we had 
then better linen, although the yarn was not so level as the 
mill-spun yarns, than we have had since the hand-spinning 



ELAX-SPINNING TRADE IN LEEDS. 



283 



ceased to be followed, and also better Flax, for the farmers' 
wives, daughters, and servants having to spin their own 
Flax, took treble pains in all the various modes of culture, 
watering, &c, and were no doubt much better skilled in 
handling it in the time that the same class are now; for 
the fact of their having to spin it and provide weekly house 
expenses by the sale of the yarn, and in a great measure all 
the clothes they wore, made them trebly careful in the 
preparation of the raw material ; and the farmers' sons having 
to weave it made them equally anxious to possess well prepared 
Flax. I recollect that my own father obtained in Dublin 
£1 2s. 9d. per stone of 16lbs. for Flax that had been prepared 
in a superior manner. 

The Leeds Flax-spinner, continuing his sketch of the 
Flax-spinning trade in Yorkshire, says that "the first spin- 
ning-machine on this plan was put up at the works of Messrs. 
Hives and Atkinson, of Leeds, and by them and other 
spinners the whole plan of wet spinning, with the requisite 
improvements in the preparing processes, was soon perfected 
and carried out. A very wide horizon for the extension of 
Flax-spinning was now opened. Yarn could now be spun 
much finer than before, from 50 up to 200 leas, and also 
cheaper, so as effectually to exclude hand-spun yarns from the 
whole range of linen manufacture, except the finest cambrics 
and lace thread. For a time, large quantities of these wet- 
spun yarns were sent from Leeds and Lancashire to the north 
of Ireland and to France. But the new mode of spinning 
soon spread into Scotland, Ireland, and finally into France, 
where it is now carried on— under the stimulus of a protective 
tariff, however — to a large extent. Thus the object of the 
first Napoleon was at length accomplished, but not in the way 
that he intended ; the result was a benefit to France, but only 
as the consequence of a still greater benefit to England. The 
present Emperor has, not long since, rewarded the descendants 
of Girard for his invention, the fruits of which were so long 



284 



DICKSON ON 



postponed. The later improvements which have followed the 
wet spinning have consisted in the application of the combing 
machinery, which has done so much for the worsted manu- 
facture, to Flax tow, enabling a material, capable of being 
spun to the finest yarn, to be obtained from what is otherwise 
only of small value ; and various processes have to be tried 
for cleansing and softening the raw Flax previous to its being 
spun — (Dickson's patent for oil and ammonia proved successful 
for cleansing and softening). The manufacture of sewing 
thread from Flax commenced not long after the introduction 
of Flax- spinning by machinery, and has since increased, and 
become a branch of the linen-trade of considerable importance, 
a large proportion of the thread manufacture being carried on 
at Leeds.* The application of the power-loom to the weaving 
of linens has, of late years, been considerably on the increase, 
but to a much less extent than in the cotton and worsted 
manufactures ; as the greatest part of the linens made in the 
United Kingdom are still woven by hand labour. I have 
thought it necessary to give this account of the nature of the 
successive improvements introduced into the Flax-spinning, 
in order to make the statistical figures I shall now quote more 
intelligible. The sources from whence the statistics of the 
linen and Flax-spinning trade may be derived are somewhat 
scanty, but enough may be stated to indicate its progress. 
Imports of Flax into the United Kingdom. 



Average of 5 years. Tons. 

1820 to 1824 27,875 

1825 ,, 1829 44,491 

1830 ,, 1834 48,044 

1835 1839 61,218 

1840 ,, 1844 67,718 

1845 „ 1849 68,879 

1850 ,, 1854 76,254 

Year 1855 ...... 64,672 

1856 84,352 



* I was the first person able, by my experiments in Leeds in 1838, on a 
power-loom made by a Mr. Busk, to overcome the great difficulty in making 
a web of linen with a perfect selvage, and to introduce the loom into B eiiait. 



FLAX-SPINNING. 



285 



Previous to 1820, the import of Flax had increased but 
slowly, but from that time we see that the increase has been 
rapid, having been more than trebled between that date and 
1856— or from 27,875 to 84,352. We must add to this the 
home growth, which is for Ireland about 22,000 tons yearly, 
on the average of the last ten years ; for England and Scot- 
land a small quantity, probably not exceeding 600 or 700 tons. 
On the whole, the annual consumption of Flax in the United 
Kingdom will be about 100,000 tons, which, at an average 
price of £50, will make the yearly value of the raw material 
of the linen manufacture about £5,000,000. From a Parlia- 
mentary return we obtain the following particulars respecting 
the Flax-spinning of the United Kingdom : — 
Flax-spinning — 1850. 



Power Horse 

1850. Factories. Spindles. looms, power. Hands. 

England and Wales 135 365,568 1,083 4,487 19,001 

-Scotland 189 303,125 2,529 6,425 28,312 

Ireland 69 326,008 58 3,380 21,121 



393 994,701 3,670 14,392 68,434 

1856. 

England and Wales 139 441,759 1,987 4,644 19,787 

Scotland 168 278,304 5,011 6,346 31,722 

Ireland 110 567,980 1,871 7,332 28,753 



417 1,288,043 8,869 18,322 80,262 

1856. 

Yorkshire. 

Spinning only 37 149,201 

Spinning and weaving ... 9 65,346 411 



46 214,557 411 

1858. 

Leeds 11 160,300 510 . . 8,772 



Here we see that the increase has been much the most rapid 
in Ireland, and that in Scotland there was during this period 
a small dimunition. There are several circumstances to 
account for the rapid increase in Flax-spinning in Ireland 
The north of Ireland is an old established seat of the linen 
manufacture, chiefly of the lighter fabrics suited for the export 
markets, and especially for that of the United States of 
America, which, since 1846, have so largely increased. Again, 



286 



DICKSON ON 



when the spinning by machinery was introduced into the 
north of Ireland, all the other blanches of the manufacture 
were already established there, the weaving, the bleaching j 
the commercial establishments, and besides this the Flax 
(the raw material) was grown at their own doors.* In England 
the linens manufactured have been more of the heavier and 
higher priced description, and suited more for the home 
market than for export. In Scotland, the manufacture has 
consisted chiefly of the coarser and cheaper description of 
linens and of yarns, and the export of the latter has been 
materially affected by the high protective tariffs of the Con- 
tinent, especially of France. Much attention has of late been 
attracted to the object of encouraging and increasing the home 
growth of Flax in England and Scotland ; but the introduc- 
tion of this species of agricultural produce into districts where 
it is entirely new, is attended with many difficulties, and but 
little has yet been effected in that direction. Many attempts 
have also been made to introduce new fibrous materials from 
our colonies and foreign countries for use in the linen manu- 
facture ; and the new material Jute, imported from India and 
used chiefly in Scotland, has been of valuable service to the 
manufacture of that country. I may now draw attention to 
the following table, showing the exports of the linen manu- 
factures of the United Kingdom : — 

Export — Linens. 

Linen Manufactures Thread, 
Years. Entered by the yard. Tapes, and Linen Yarn. 

Small Wares. 

Yards. Value. lbs. Value. 

£ £ £ 

1831 to 1835 65,571,770 ... 2,292,906 ., . 74,883... 1,297,603 .. 108,415 
1836 to 1840 78,468,192 . . . 2,901,299 . . . 97,723 . . . 12,383,825 . . 637,121 
1841 to 1845 84,682,490 . . . 2,733,160 . . . 178,580 . . . 25,465,785 1,001,618 
1846 to 1850 99,346,562 . . . 2,957,401 . . . 249,301 . . . 15,876,004 . . 726,425 
1850 to 1855 125,226,539 . . . 3,924,^07 . . . 342,327 . . . 20,307,571 1,024 488 



* This is the doctrine of Swift, first produce, and then work up to the 
greatest degree of perfection, for exportation, your own home-grown material, 
as a first step to a country's thriving. 



FLAX-SPINNING. 



287 



We see from this table that the export of linens has nearly 
doubled in quantity and value between the years 1831 and 
1855. The export of thread has increased more than four- 
fold. The export of yarns increased with very great rapidity 
up to the year 1845, since which time it has been nearly sta- 
tionary, being checked by the high tariffs on the Continent 
before spoken of. The next table gives a comparative view, 
so far as can be made out from returns and the most reliabe 
estimates, of the total extent of Flax-spinning in foreign 
countries, as well as in the United Kingdom, in the year 
1852 :— 



England . . 

Scotland . . 

Ireland . . 

United Kingdom 

France . . 

Belgium . . 

Germany . . 



Spindles. 
391,568 
295,125 
456,000 

1,142,639 
350,000 
100,000 
80,000 





Spindles. 




. 50,000 


Austria. . . . 


. 30,000 


United States . 


. 14,550 


Switzerland . , 


, 8,000 


Holland . , . 


6,000 







1,731,283 



I must now conclude my sketch of the remarkable rise and 
growth of Flax-spinning in England, and of which the town 
of Leeds has been to so large an extent the birth-place and 
centre of improvement, and which has since spread so widely, 
not only over the three divisions of the United Kingdom, but 
into all quarters of the world. If the extension of Flax- 
spinning has of late been more rapid in other quarters than in 
the town of Leeds, we must accept that as a warning at once, 
and a friendly challenge to the renewal of the exertions by 
which Leeds was distinguished in former years. 

The Leeds Flax-spinner, having finished his "long dis- 
course" on the importing of Flax, and the exporting of linens 
and yarns, overlooked the necessity of noticing the most 
important feature of the subject,, viz., the deficiency of supply. 



288 



DICKSON ON 



Indeed, his friendly challenge u to a renewal of exertions by 
which Leeds was distinguished in former years," reminds me 
of one of the contracted views held by the late Daniel O'Con- 
nell, when he wanted " Ireland for the Irish." Why did he 
not take a national view of his subject, and let the British 
Association know the cause of the national loss, by the in- 
creased imports of 20,680 tons of foreign Flax in 1856, over 
the imports of 1855? Why did he not extend his subject to 
Ireland, a country from which he derived the greatest portion 
of his wealth ? Had he done so, he would have discovered 
the national loss, and would have been able to explain it by 
the increased imports of the raw material. Who, being pos- 
sessed of friendly feeling towards those engaged in the spin- 
ning of Flax in Great Britain and Ireland, could view the 
enormous increase of imports of foreign Flax from 1820 to 
1856, without experiencing deep regret at the falling off in 
the production of Flax in Ireland, between the year 1851 and 
1856. However, as the Leeds Flax-spinner has not told us 
in his friendly challenge" what he means by the statement 
that the Leeds spinners would gain by a ' 1 renewal of exer- 
tions," I will venture to place before jthem (the Leeds 
spinners) facts, by figures, which will point out what should 
incline them all to admit the necessity for promoting the cul- 
tivation of Flax in England, and above- all by the natives of 
India, where labour is not more than 3d. per head, while 
slave labour in growing cotton is 7d. per head. 

From a late number of the Belfast Mercantile Journal, I 
copy the following observations, penned by my once most 
particular and respected friend, the late Mr. John Seed, who 
was proprietor and editor of that journal, and who for several 
years conducted it with great judgment and ability. His loss 
to the mercantile interest in Belfast has been acknowledged 
by the press of Ulster with feelings of sorrow, sympathy, and 
goodwill which reflect credit on the proprietors, and must help 



FLAX STATISTICS, 



289 



to console the family and other relations, who have to deplore 
the loss of so worthy a member of society. Mr. Seed, in his 
article on the Flax question, said : — 

11 The serious decline in the cultivation of the Flax plant in 
Ireland, adds increased interest to this question, the fibre of 
that plant being the raw material of the staple trade of Ulster. 
The following figures show the continuous decline 

No. of acres sown in Ireland. Produce per acre. 

1851— 140,536 - 33,861 

1852— 137,008 - 35,462 

1853— 174,579 - - - 43,863 

1854— 151,404 - 35,606 

1855— 97,075 - - - 23,428 

1856— 106,311 - - - 18,791 

1857— 97,821 - 14,475 

Here we find that since 1854, the decline in weight reaches 
no less than 67 per cent., during a period, too, that the linen- 
trade has been rapidly extending, as indicated by the following 
statistics of value, extracted from the Board of Trade returns : — - 

Exported from the United Kingdom. 
Linen manufactures. Linen yarns. 

1851— £4,107,395 - - £ 951,426 

1852— 4,231,786 - - 1,140,565 

1853— 4,758,432 - - 1,154,977 

1854— 4.108,458 - - 944,502 

1855— 4,118,924 - - 916,429 

1856— 4,888,780 - ~ 1,365,980 

1857— 4,511,454 - - 1,647,879 

The consequence of this unnatural state of things has been, 
and must continue to be, an increased price for the raw 
material, the result of which, as a matter of course, will be the 
transference to a great extent of the consumption from linen 
T 



290 



•DICKSON ON THE 



to cotton or other fabrics, to the serious injury of Ireland's 
staple manufacture. 

It behoves our merchants, therefore, to be wise in time, and 
at once set their houses in order, ere it be too late. 



From the above returns, it appears the imports of foreign 
Flax and the growth of Irish Flax stand thus : — 







Tons. 


Foreign Flax Imported in 1824 


• • 


. 27,875 


Do. 1834 




. 48,044 


Do. 1844 




. 67,718 


Do. 1856 




. 84,352 


Irish Flax grown in 1851 




. 33,861 


Do. 1854 




. 35,606 


Do. 1857 




. 14,475 



If the object of the British Association's annual meetings be 
that of promoting trade and grappling with subjects that are a 
drawback on industry, surely the above facts should have been 
brought before them in Leeds. 

However, as the Leeds Flax-spinners thought proper to leave 
their cause in the hands of one man in the trade, and that man's 
wealth enables him, when markets are low, to lay in two years'* 
stock of Flax, they cannot be surprised at his not going into the 
cause of the enormous rise, this year, in the price of Flax, com- 
pared with the price for years back, as it was not his interest 
to expose the trade farther to the li British Association," any 
more than the dry detail as to the spindles employed in 
Yorkshire. And as to the falling off of a supply, he could not 
well get over noticing it ; but the falling off in the growth of 
Flax in Ireland was never hinted at, nor was a remedy for the 
case suggested or laid before the il British Association." 

The Flax-spinning and weaving in Scotland, being of vast 
importance in Dundee, Kircaldy, Arbroath, Dunfermline, 
Aberdeen and Glasgow, and several other places, were entirely 
unrepresented. This, before a society composed of noblemen, 



FLAX QUESTION. 



291 



and men of science and influence, was, in my humble opinion, 
a sad mistake, especially at a time when the rival trade in 
cotton manufacture is straining every nerve to obtain a cheaper 
supply of raw material. However, as the Flax-spinners of 
Great Britain and Ireland are now turning their attention more 
to Indian productions, we may soon find a supply from that 
great empire that will allow the Dutch, Belgians, and Russians 
to spin and weave their own produce of Flax and hemp. 

As the Leeds Flax-spinner omitted to give any account of 
Dundee, although it contains forty-four Flax-spinning mills, a 
few remarks on the subject, as my work may reach North 
Britain, may be interesting to those connected with the trade 
in Scotland. 

Some few years ago a statement was made by a gentleman 
in Dublin, Mr. Anketell, before the Royal Dublin Society, when 
the- question was put before that very intelligent body, " Can 
Agriculture alone emplojr the people of Ireland ?" 

Mr. Anketell adverted to the increase of the spirit of general 
enterprise consequent on the success of the great staple trade 
of England, and the effect of the increased prosperity of the 
people in developing the higher arts. He adverted to the rise 
and progress of the Flax and silk trades — the mnnufacturers 
in the precious metals — the cotton manufacture, its origin, 
rise, and progress, forming the greatest wonder of industrial 
enterprise that ever contributed to the glory of a nation. Mr. 
Anketell dwelt on the present prodigious extent of the cotton 
trade, which, from infantine proportions half a century since, 
has now assumed colossal importance, whether viewed in any 
of its aspects, the busy hum or the thousands it emlpoys in the 
giant factories wherein the wondrous agencies of native power 
are developed, the monuments of the genius of Hargrave, 
Arkwright, Compton, and Cartwright, which supplied the 
delicate machinery that gives to the whole world the fabrics 
produced by the manufacturing industry of England. Mr, 



292 



DICKSON ON THE HISTORY 



Anketell enumerated the various manufacturers in which 
England excels the world, and remarked the amount of per- 
severance, exertion, and patriotism, which had been exerted 
to bring them to their present pitch of glory. He compared 
England's present greatness, resulting from her manufactures, 
with the poverty and meanness of her condition before her 
manufactures were known or cultivated, and concluded by 
asserting that whether England was considered as supplying 
the wants of her people at home through the medium of inex- 
haustible divisions of labour, or exporting her commodities 
abroad, it should be concluded that the glory to which she had 
arrived was owing principally to her manufactures, which 
employed forty-four per cent, of her people, thus enabling her 
to stand without a rival among the nations. Mr. Anketel 
having concluded this part of his subject, proceeded to the 
consideration of the effects of manufactures on the prosperity 
of Scotland. He described the agricultural condition of 
Scotland as being declared, on authority, to have been truly 
wretched previous to the period of the Union. Even fifty years 
ago it was far behind that of England. The woollen trade was 
never remarkable in Scotland, yet, in the article called tweeds, 
it has become famous ; and the town of Dundee owes its 
prosperity to their manufacture. 

However much I feel pleased to agree with Mr. Anketel 
respecting the cause of England's prosperity, I am obliged to 
differ from hi in when he says, — " The town of Dundee owes 
its prosperity to the manufacture of tweeds, as by the fol- 
lowing statistics of that town it is evident that the Flax- 
spinning and weaving has been the chief cause of its pros- 
perity, all of which has taken place from the year 1823, as in 
1824 and 1825 there were only thirteen Flax-spinning mills 
in Dundee, and in 1851 there were forty-four mills. 

Statistics of Dundee. 
Since the establishment of the old company, the population, 



OF FLAX-SPINNING IN DUNDEE. 



293 



trade, and public works of the town have been greatly 
increased. In 1823 the population of Dundee was about 
thirty thousand. The population of Dundee is now, in 1859, 
about seventy thousand. There were in 1824-5 only thirteen 
Flax-spinning mills in Dundee, now there are forty '-four. The 
rental of the Flax-spinning mills, as assessed for police 
purposes, was, in 1825, £982 ; now it is £6,787, or about 
six hundred per cent, of increase. There are besides, extensive 
power-loom weaving establishments; also manufactories and 
other public works which were not in existence in 1825. 
There is now one Flax-spinning establishment in Dundee of a 
larger rental than all the mills which existed in 1823. The 
whole of these works are dependent upon one public company 
only for a supply of gas, having no private supply of their 
own. The rental of Dundee in 1825 was £59,509. The 
rental is now upwards of £100,000. The docks and harbour 
of Dundee have been also greatly extended, and the trade of 
the port increased. The sum now expended upon the harbour 
works considerably exceeds £400,000; and there is a large 
dock in the course of formation, which, when completed, will 
almost double the present wet dock accommodation of the 
port. In 1825 the expense of lighting the harbour of Dundee 
with gas was £6; it is now about £170 per annum. The 
revenue of the harbour of Dundee amounted in 1823 to 
£9,149. In the last year it amounted to about £25,661. 
This brief statement of the position of Dundee in 1823 and 
1825, contrasted with its present position, shows the very 
great increase in the population, manufactories, and trade of 
the town and harbour. 



294 



DICKSON ON THE ADVANTAGE 



IMPORTS OF FLAX INTO DUNDEE IN 1858. 

Comparative statement of sundry imports and exports at 
the harbour of Dundee, from January 1st to December 31st, 
1857 and 1858 :— 



Imports : 



Goods, Foreign 


and Coastwise. 


1857. 


1858 






Quality. 


Quantity. 






30,135 . . 


18,402 






6,781 ♦ . 


3,646 






995 


3,113 


T-Iflvnn pnnilla 
JlLcIIJU CUUIlld 


• • • 5 J 




300 






8,159 . . 


13,828 




Total . . . 


46,099 


39,280 


Exports. 








1857. * 


1858. 


Osnaburghs . 


. . Pieces. 


10,200 . . 


6,131 


Sheetings 




108,403 . .. 


122,129 


Bagging 




6,652 . . 




Canvas 




80,543 . , 


49,198 


Dowlas 




9,170 . . 


11,978 


Sacking 




156,008 . . 


, 197,051 


Sundries 




40,587 . . 


35,001 




Total ... 


411,563 


473,936 


Flax-yarns . 


. . Tons 


1,288 . . 


1,205 


Tow and jute yarns ,, 


3,304 . , 


3,067 




Total yarns 4,592 


4,272 


Flax . . 


. Tons. 


266 . . 


1,932 


Tow . . 




265 . . 


317 


Total Flax and tow . 


. . 531 . . 


22,49 



Dundee Advertiser. 



OE JUTE AND RHEEA SPINNING. 



295 



The falling off in the imports of Flax, and the great 
increase of jute into the trade of Dundee, for mixing and 
spinning with Flax, caused me to urge the fact on the notice 
and consideration of the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; when 

I wrote him (Mr. W. E. Gladstone) 0*11 the 14th of December, 
1863, pointing out the advantage of having the Rheea fibre 
introduced into the industry of Lancashire in place of 
cotton — as it, like the jute in Dundee, would soon take a 
leading position in that district — and I gave him additional 
evidence, by quoting the words spoken to me by the late Sir 
W. Brown, Bart., of Liverpool, " That such new fibres along 
with Flax and hemp would tend, if introduced, to the revolu- 
tionising the trade of Liverpool by my cottonizing process." 
But although Mr. Gladstone was an early disciple or convert 
to the . teaching of the late Sir R. Peel, whose policy was 

I I buy in the cheapest, and sell in the dearest markets," the 
cheap Rheea fibre at 6d. to 8d. per pound, in place of cotton 
at 2s. per pound, to make clothing for the British army in 
India, and also the Indian army, was not thought worthy of 
the notice of the finance minister. See his answer : — - 

"11, Downing Street, Whitehall. 
"December, 18th, 1863. 
" Sir— I am desired by the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 13th instant, and 
I am to say that the subject to which it refers is a matter not 
within his province. 

' ' I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
(Signed) "CHARLES L. RYAN. 

"Mr. J. H. Dickson," 

I sent with the letter of the 13th the yarns and twilled 
cloth spun and woven on cotton machinery ; an article superior 
in strength and appearance to any cotton cloth ever made for 
trowser stuff for the army in a hot climate, and the parcel 
was returned to me unopened, although I took care to say in 



296 



DICKSON ON THE ADVANTAGE OF 



my letter that the material could be had at one half the price 
of cotton, and that the question was one of economy in the 
estimates, and came more immediately under his notice than 
Sir C. Wood, or any other of the ministers to whom I had 
written. However, as his colleague Earl Russell says, 
u nothing prospers in this country until it has had a good 
deal of soaking," I suppose I must rest and be thankful, and 
as long " soaking" or submerging, called steeping, makes 
fine quality of fibre, I must wait the convenience of the 
" soaking" cabinet of Gladstone and Co., in order that some- 
thing fine may be had from the hands of the (" all the talent,") 
government. 

As jute is seldom or ever more than half the price of Flax, 
the increase imports of jute and the increase export of yarn 
in 1858, shows a true statement of the cause of prosperity in 
Dundee, with this difference, which has not been noticed, that 
what is called Flax-yarns is made from one-half jute, if not 
two-thirds of the whole 1,932 tons exported in 1858, the Flax 
and jute being mixed in the sliver before being spun, and 
may we not hope that the day is not far distant when, through 
the influence of our rulers, the merchants engaged in shipping 
their linens from Gal way to America by the new line of 
steamers, may plant in Connaught some branch of their 
Ulster manufactures, first sowing the seed of the plant, 
which has so abundantly rewarded the farmer this year 
(1858), for any extra care he has bestowed on its growth 
and preparation. 

As few of the Connaught farmers, or indeed of the 
English or Scotch farmers, are aware of the great advan- 
tage of Flax-growing, and of the real benefit of manufactures 
to families who till the soil of Ulster, I shall add an extract 
from the Coleraine Chronicle, which may be worthy of con- 
sideration : — 

£ ' There is at present a little girl, now sixteen years of age, 



JUTE AND FLAX-SPINNING. 



297 



in Ballygoney, two miles from Moneymore, who has woven 
during the last four years not fewer than 216 webs of linen 
cloth, being one every week, and two in each year over. 
Every Saturday during the whole time she wove none, 
but was employed on that day in sewing and washing for 
herself." 

According to my calculation, this girl made, at 7s. 6d. per 
web, which is a low figure for coarse linen, £20 5s. per annum, 
and as that sum is sufficient to pay the rent of at least fifteen 
if not twenty acres of land in that country, I cannot but think 
that it presents to farmers a sufficient reason for acquiring a 
knowledge of the use of the spinning-wheel and shuttle, as well 
as of the plough. If the people of Connaught are open to 
receive instruction, I am certain there is, in the above example 
of youthful industry, sufficient to show them that, if they go to 
work like this Ulster girl, with the same energy and per- 
severance, they cannot fail to promote Irish manufactures ; 
they will not commence at the wrong end, like the Manufac- 
ture Board of Essex Bridge, Dublin^ in 1851. 

The English and Scotch spinners are now paying for Armagh 
hand-scutched Flax 10s. 6d. to twelve shillings and six-pence 
per stone of 16|ibs. which I frequently bought for them at 
5s. 6d. to 6s. per stone; and they are now paying 10s. 6d. 
to 16s. per stone for mill-scutched Flax, which for many 
years I bought on an average of from 7s. 3d. to 9s. per stone. 

Ireland can and should supply all her wants, and if the 
people of the South were only once to taste of the sweets of 
such industry, they would get rid, not only of provincial but 
of national vanity, and be no longer as Swift has said — 

" Deluded mortals whom the great 
Chose as companions ' tete-a-tete.' " 

To which I shall add, 

Proud of superiority that never can, 
That never ought to be the lot of man. 



298 



DICKSON ON THE HISTORY 



I should rejoice to see the names of my countrymen enrolled 

on the page of Irish history, as they were from the years 1730 

to 1790, as an industrious and patriotic people, out of the reach 

of the demagogues ; men who, to foster jealousy between the 

English and Irish people, debase talent, and neglect opportunity. 

I have ever been confident that such is, to the greatest extent, 

a prostitution of acquirements, that ought to have been turned 

to good and patriotic purposes ; but I am aware that many 

articles have been written, and unfortunately for Ireland, still 

are being written in newspapers, with a view to create a sale 

for them. As Hudibras says, 

" Books and money laid for show, 
Like nest eggs to make clients lay." 

It is still fashionable for some of the Irish journals (of the 
Duffy stamp) to abuse everything English ; unless they kept 
up the fire, they would be considered lukewarm in the cause 
of " Ireland for the Irish," and therefore to retain their patrons, 
they find it necessary to hold up on a distorted mirror the 
blacker crimes and more heinous faults of a sister people. If 
they were the true friends of Ireland, they would write dif- 
ferently, and by their publications let the world see that their 
motto has been and still is, "Amiens humani generis." 

I will here call the reader's attention to the expressed feelings 
and views of the Conservative press of Dublin, on the con- 
dition of Ireland, in order that he may know who are the real 
friends of the people. 

Let us now glance at the existing state of manufacturers in 
Ireland. The most recent returns on the subject show that in 
1839 there were at work 95 factories in all, viz., cotton, 24; 
woollen, 31 ; Flax, 40 ; and the number employed therein was 
14,870. By a parliamentary paper, published in 1847, it 
appears that the number then employed in factories was 22,591 
and of these 17,000 odd were in Ulster, whilst in Connaught 
not one one was to be found. 



OF THE FLAX TRADE. 



299 



Now it is manifest from this outline how little has been 
accomplished, and how extensive is the field of labour on 
which the friends of the manufacture movement have entered. 
The quantity of wool grown in Ireland is very considerable. 
The number of sheep, as given by the census of 1841, was 
upwards of two millions ; and if the wool produced were all 
manufactured at home, instead of being exported to France 
and England, a vast amount of remunerative labour would 
thus be provided, and squalid misery, such as exists in the 
liberties of our cities, be thereby relieved. 

The wool which we export to France forms the substance 
of the beautiful dresses called mousseline de laines, but which 
cannot, for our want of manufacturing industry, be manu- 
factured at home; and our countrywomen would have the 
gratification of wearing a favourite dress under the pleasing 
reflection that they were adorned with the products of Irish 
looms. 

Again, as regards cotton, wool, we are unable to import it 
direct from the Southern States and Surat, because we have 
no manufactures to send in its place ; and we are obliged to 
procure it by trans-shipment from England. Under these 
disadvantageous circumstances, we never can have a cotton 
trade until we become, to some extent, a man ufacturing country. 
"The man," as Sir R. Kane well observes, " who shall first 
import a bale of cotton direct to Killaloe, and have it manu- 
factured there, to be in turn exported in Irish fabrics, will have 
wrought a social revolution." 

The linen trade is the only department in texile manufacture 
of which Ireland can boast ; and even this is almost entirely 
confined to Ulster. Why should it not be extended to the 
other provinces, bearing in its train the same prosperity and 
independence which it has created in the north? It is a 
trade which the eminent authority we have quoted above 
describes as giving employment from a given surface of land 



300 



DICKSON ON THE 



to a greater number and a greater variety of individuals than 
any other branch of human occupation. From the hands of 
the farmer the Flax proceeds to the dresser, the spinner, the 
weaver, the bleacher, the embroiderer, &c, affording remu- 
nerative industry to each to a great extent, and yielding an 
amount of profit with which no other agricultural product can 
at all be put in competition. The industry which it creates is 
both agricultural and manufacturing ; and no more effectual 
method could be devised of ameliorating the condition of the 
working clases in the south and west of Ireland, and removing the 
oppressive burden of indolence upon the resources of the land, 
than by the rapid extension of the culture and manufacture 
of Flax. This important topic, we are happy to find, has been 
occupying the attention of the Manufacture Board ; and assu- 
redly they could not devote their time and energies to a more 
practical useful measure, or one better calculated to accom- 
plish the object they have in view. Let any thinking man 
look at Belfast, with its numerous factories, its crowded 
harbour, its marts of commerce, and daily increasing prosperity* 
and he will have abundant proof of the blessings of the linen 
manufacture. And, after gazing on this picture, let him 
change his field of vision, and turn to Galway. What a 
contrast is here ! Yet what is to prevent Galway from partici- 
pating in the improvements which Belfast so largely enjoys ? 
With railway communication to Dublin, the market for her 
produce will be opened up, and by the aid of improved 
machinery, the Flax can be made ready for the markets. 
The path to prosperity is before her. 

Having collected everything that in my humble opinion 
could be t nought deserving of notice on the Flax question, I 
insert the following brief history of Flax-culture, written, as I 
am informed, by a Belfast gentleman, whose family had 
been largely engaged in the linen-trade of that very prosperous 
city. 



FLAX QUESTION. 



301 



OUR STAPLE MANUFACTURES, PAST AND PRESENT. 
The history of Flax and Flax-culture belongs to nearly every 
nation of the globe. No writer, however ancient the date of 
his annals, nor any historian, however remote the period of 
his researches, has yet been able to discover the early advents 
of that culture. Flax-plants grow in all climes, and thrive 
under every variety of temperature. Of course the class of 
produce varies to some extent with atmospheric peculiarities ; 
still, from the equator to the pole, we may find different 
descriptions of the one plant, and in many instances it exists 
among the natural produce of the soil. Thousands of years 
ago, and long before Pharoah's prime minister, Joseph, brought 
into practice the first system of corn laws ever known to the 
world, Egypt's farmers and Egypt's operatives were learned 
in the growth of the raw material, and cunning in the mysteries 
of weaving linen fabrics. 

Under the Mosaic eocnomy, it is evident that the value of 
Flax and its products were fully estimated, special enactments 
having been set forth for the exclusive preservation of that 
manufacture. One clause of the acts then promulgated most 
peremptorily interdicted the use of mingled linen and woollen 
fabrics as articles of clothing. Textile coalitions were conse- 
quently watched with as much jealousy in those days, as 
cabinet coalitions are at the present period. 

Throughout New Zealand's immense tracts and prairies 
Flax is found growing to the height of six or even seven feet, 
numerously branching off at the top, and exhibiting great 
strength of stem. The aborigines of that country use the 
fibre in making ropes, cordage, and a very coarse description 
of cloth. Amid the classic isles ef Greece, 

" Where burning Sappho loved and sung," 
the Flax crops were cultivated thirty centuries ago with all that 
attention to scientific skill which distinguished their early 
history. Several of the most learned of the Grecian 



302 



DICKSON ON 



philosophers delighted in husbandry as much as they deprecated 
war, and one of them has stated that the management of a 
farm was of more importance than the conducting of an army. 

Many differences of opinion exist relative to the introduction 
of Flax cultivation into Ireland. Some historians tell us that 
the Phoenicians first taught the Celts how to grow the fibre, 
spin the yarn, and weave the cloth ; others say that the art 
was introduced in the twelfth century ; and a third set of 
opinionists tell us that the system of Flax-culture had no 
existence until after the fourteenth century. We do not find 
any account of Flax having been grown in England until the 
reign of Henry VI., "when the Earl of Hertford weilded the 
baton in Britain's cabinet. The culture of the plant was then 
enforced, as it appeared, to raise material for fishing nets. 
Dressing the straw after the steeping process was then little 
known, and scutching had no existence, the fibre being separated 
from the woody substance by hand labour alone. Macpherson 
informs us that Flax was grown, and linen woven in 
the days of Henry III., some time between 1216 and 
1272. Leaving those points to be settled by those who have 
more leisure, we may state that, as Ireland exported linen to 
England in pretty large quantities during the fifteenth century, 
there must at that period have been an extensive area of land 
set apart for Flax-culture — we mean extensive, as compared 
with the quantity of soil then under the spade and plough. 
The earliest statistical record of Flax-growing in Ireland, so 
far as we have been able to discover, does not extend beyond 
1696. That year was rendered memorable because of King 
William* having repealed the taxation previously imposed on 
all Flax, hemp, thread, yarn, or linen exported from Ireland 
to England or Scotland. It appears that the quantity of land 

* This is the King who is still condemned by the Irish traitors; but 
especially by those who, under the name of Ribbon-men, are of the Phoenix 
Club fraternity. 



FLAX-SPINNING. 



303 



then under Flax was only about 950 plantation acres. A 
century afterwards, the total breadth similarly cropped had 
extended to 10,000 acres. At that date the value of Flax- 
seed imported into Ireland was set down at £120,000, and the 
quantity of undressed FJax landed from foreign parts was 
estimated at 3,500 tons. 

In the course of these papers, we have frequently had 
occasion to notice the policy pursued by the Prince of Orange 
in reference to Ireland's staple manufacture. That monarch 
exhibited an enlarged system of mercantile economy, very 
far in advance of the age in which he lived. The gates of 
commercial freedom had long been closed against Irish manu- 
factures, and when he left the way clear, and gave native 
enterprise a fair field, rapid improvements and extended 
business almost immediately followed. 

The year preceding the repeal of fiscal duties, the total 
exports of linen-cloth from Ireland only reached 320,000 
yards, valued at £18,000. We have already shown °that 
the eighteenth century was remarkable for the advances made 
in the linen-trade through all its phases, and we now 
give the account of the exports for the different centenary 
epochs : — 

Yards. Value. 
1695 . . . 320,000 . . . £18,000 - 
1795 . . . 42,780,000 . . . £3,000,000 
While such satisfactory advances had taken place in the 
demand for the manufactured article, linen-yarns also felt the 
impetus of unfettered trade. Exports of yarns increased from 
5,400 cwts. in 1695 to 34,000 cwts. in 1795. During the 
American war there had been very serious inconvenience felt 
by the Irish farmer, in consequence of the inadequate supplies 
of Flax-seed, and the same cause extended from the homestead 
of the Flax-grower to the markets of the linendraper. The 
quantity of seed saved by home-growers in those days was 



304 



DICKSON ON 



still less in proportion to the quantity of Flax raised than it is 
at present, and the seed taken off the straw usually turned out 
unfit for sowing ; spring supplies were, consequently, almost 
solely made up from foreign importations. At the end of 
1808, and when the Duke of Portland, Lords Bathurst and 
Castlereagh, were the leading trio of Downing Street, an 
order in Council was issued, which showed considerable nar- 
row-mindedness, relative to British trade with America. That 
movement gave so much offence to Brother Jonathan that, in 
a fit of retaliation, he laid an embargo on all exports from 
America to the United Kingdom. Of course, Flax-seed was 
among the prohibited articles, and, as the supplies previously 
forwarded had run up to 30,000 or 35,000 hogsheads, the 
embargo caused no little alarm among the people of Ulster. 
Unfortunately, too, it occurred that at the very same period, 
the respective monarchs of Russia and Holland had also set 
up the barricades, thus giving no hope of any quantity of Riga 
or Dutch seed coming forward. 

Under such a state of affairs, we need scarcely say that 
the Ulster agriculturists were placed in the most awkward 
position. They had made the usual preparations for the Flax 
crop, and just at the critical time when the supplies from 
America, Russia, and Holland, should have been coming 
forward, they found matters in the most unfavourable con- 
dition. On the 27th of December, 1808, a meeting of the 
leading merchants and drapers connected with the linen-trade 
was held at Armagh, for the purpose of sending petitions to 
the King and the Commons, praying for an immediate altera- 
tion of the orders in Council. That meeting was attended by 
Mr. John Hancock, Mr. John S. Ferguson, Mr. Christy, Mr. 
Phelps, Mr. Robert Williamson, and a host of others then 
largely engaged as linen merchants, drapers, and bleachers ; 
but no definite arrangements were effected. Two or three 
weeks afterwards a second meeting was held, and at that 



FLAX-SPINNING. 



305 



convention a memorial was got up, and forwarded to both 
houses of Parliament. From that document we take a few 
extracts. After referring to the shortness of the supplies of 
seed, the memorialists stated as follows : — 

" Flax is now very considerably advanced in price, in con- 
sequence of this deficiency, and, by reason of the increasing 
demand for Great Britain, on account of the failure of the 
usual supply of that article in the ports of the Baltic, 
must rise still higher, in case we are disappointed of the 
abundant supply of Flax-seed for the ensuing season of sowing. 
The present price of Flax is more than double what it was nine 
months ago. By a return to the Linen Board, there appear 
to be only 6,000 hogsheads of last year's importation fit for 
sowing now in Ireland. The annual supply from Holland, Riga, 
&c, in case of no interruption, does not exceed 10,000 hogs- 
heads, and the usual quantity sown in Ireland amounts to 
45,000 hogsheads, and 35,000 hogsheads were usually imported 
from the United States of America. If, in consequence of the 
embargo, that supply be cut off from coming to Ireland, the 
situation of the linen-trade in this country must, in the course of 
the ensuing summer, be critical in the extreme ; a stop must be 
put to the manufacture, and upwards of half a million indus- 
trious inhabitants thrown out of employment." 

The document concludes by imploring Parliament to re- 
consider the impolicy of the order in Council, and was signed by 
Thomas Phelps. John Hancock, James Christy, and William 
Dawson. 

To the memorial, after some deliberation, the Chancellor 
of the Irish Exchequer sent an official reply, regretting, in 
the usual stereotyped phrases, that circumstances over which 
the government had no control rendered it necessary to adopt 
a certain course of policy towards America ; but he hoped 
that, for the future, Ireland would be independent of other 
countries, by producing an ample supply of Flax-seed for her 
U 



306 



DICKSON ON 



own requirements. This is all very excellent, in the way of 
"live horse and you'll get grass" philosophy; but, for the 
time, the consequences were very disastrous in every depart- 
ment of the linen manufacture. Flax-seed, which had been 
disposed of a short time previously at 40s. to 60s. per quarter, 
arose to £20 and £22 per quarter, or upwards of 50s. per 
bushel. Before the close of the season, some parcels were 
sold in Belfast at twelve to eighteen guineas per hogshead. 

It was well observed by the gentleman who presided at the 
Armagh meeting, that any great dearth or scarcity of Flax- 
seed in Ireland affected all ranks of society, from the landlord 
to the quill-boy. 

As soon as the alarm about the deficient supplies of seed 
had found its way through the country, Flax fibre rose fifty 
per cent. Qualities which previously sold at 9s. per stone 
could not be had under 13s. Many dealers bought largely in 
the local markets, and stored the lots away in secret places, 
expecting rates to advance to two guineas a stone. 

In the meantime, hundreds of spinners were thrown idle, 
wheels were reluctantly cast aside, and the click of the reel 
was rarely heard at the cottager's ingle nook. Linens, 
whether in a finished or in a brown state, were for a few weeks 
eagerly bought up by speculative purchasers ; but the value 
thus given to goods had a very backward influence on sales. 
Consumers became alarmed at the extreme range of prices, 
refusing to purchase the usual quantities,' and thus business 
fell off considerably. Like all other excitements, however, 
the fever at last lulled itself to comparative calmness, and 
before the middle of that summer, affairs to a great extent 
resumed the ordinary course. The government aroused itself 
to action by the strenuous representations made to ministers ; 
and a bounty of 40s. per quarter, or 5s. per bushel, was offered 
to the importers of the first 50,000 bushels of Flax-seed 
brought into Ireland, ' ' such importations to be landed before 
the 1st of April." 



FLAX-SPINNING. 



307 



That liberal movement produced some good results ; but, 
after all the exertions made, it appeared that, in the middle 
of the above-named month, only one-half the usual quantity 
required for sowing had arrived in the country. Rates for 
American Flax-seed at the Dublin market were then eighteen 
guineas, say £22 in bank-notes per hogshead.* 

The history of the corn trade in the spring of 1847, and 
that of the Flax-seed speculation in 1809, present many 
features of similarity. Immense sums were realised by those 
who took early advantage of the market, and were satisfied 
with the ample margin of profit then to be had by holders. 
On the other hand, numbers that refused to sell in the early 
spring were ultimately obliged to part with their stock, at a 
considerable disadvantage to themselves, before the end of the 
season. The speculators of 1809, like those of 1847, did 
good service to the country by the additional supplies which 
their transactions were the means of introducing into the 
markets; yet, when any of those merchants went down, 
their fall was exulted over by many of the stupid and un- 
thinking, as though they had been the greatest enemies of 
society. No doubt, great evils have arisen through excess of 
speculation; but what would the world of commerce have been 
had the cool and the calculating, and they alone, acted as 
pioneers in mercantile campaigns ? Where might we have 
looked for our railroads, our ocean steamers, and vast factory 
system — nay, our agricultural as well as our commercial 
progress, if the much-abused stimulus, speculation, had 
not infused its life-blood into all the arteries of trade and 
commerce ? 

The author of the above brief but well-written sketch of 

* The difference between payments made in gold and those made in paper 
currency was very material for some years previous to the close of the war with 
Napoleon. It was quite usual with the Belfast merchants and traders of those 
days to offer g oods at a certain sum if paid in gold, and a very different figure 
if paid in bank-notes. 



308 



DICKSON ON THE 



Flax-culture in Ireland, does not altogether condemn specula- 
tion ; he feels confident and convinced that speculation, when 
not driven to excess, does good ; and that men of the cool, 
calculating school, are too much of the stupid race to do much 
good for others, if any for themselves ; and he also knows 
that but for the sanguine spirits that pushed on our. railways 
and steam-ships, with our telegraphs, and other gigantic 
wonders of the age, that we. must have been behind 
other nations ; whereas, we have the honour of leading in 
all that enterprise and genius can lay claim to in the way of 
improvement. A man of inventive mind can feel as happy 
and at home with himself alone in a garret, if, in his sanguine 
moments, he feels certain by his labours to overcome a 
difficulty, as any prince or potentate can do in holding a 
drawing-room for his visitors. I have myself enjoyed the 
pleasure of such a feeling ; I knew I could surmount all the 
difficulties that lay in my path ; and I can endorse the words 
of Buffon, who said Invention depends on patience; 
contemplate your subject long ; it will gradually unfold itself, 
till a sort of electric spark convulses the brain, and spieads 
down to the heart a very glow of irritation. Then comes the 
luxuries of genius ; the true hours for production and compo- 
sition ; hours so delightful, that I have spent twelve and four- 
teen successively at my writing desk, and still been in a state 
of pleasure." Buffon is not the only authority on the pleasure 
resulting from contemplation and hours spent at a writing- 
desk. The most meritorious objects are the pursuits which 
raise the character of human nature, and promote its civiliza- 
tion, its refinement, and its dignity. My experience leads me 
to believe (for the last three years in particular) that the 
civilization and social advancement of our great Indian empire 
depends as much upon the production of the man of genius, 
for securing internal peace, as it does on good government ; 
and hence it is that I write and publish on the growing and 



FLAX TRADE. 



309 



my mode of preparing, spinning, and manufacturing the fibres 
of India, confident that it will benefit the present and coming 
generations. We are bound to the natives of our Indian 
territories by the same obligations of duty which bind us to all 
Her Majesty's other subjects: and those obligations are to 
impart the instruction which is so necessary to civilization. 
So long as I am blessed by Providence with health and 
strength to make my views known through the press, I will, 
like Buffon, not think twelve or fourteen hours so spent at my 
writing-desk otherwise than a state of pleasure. 

Some people doubt the possibility of having pleasure in 
doing what we conscientiously believe will benefit our fellow 
men, even in the midst of adversity; but history tells us that 
some of our most learned writers have found both comfort and 
benefit in affliction when so occupied. It is another proof, 
that, there is scarcely any situation, however unfortunate, 
which does not admit of alleviation ; it is so ordered by a 
kind Providence, and is not lost upon the true Christian. 
When troubles overtake him, he has sufficient strength of 
mind to contemplate that, when inquietude and adversity 
are only calculated to render the web of fate more difficult 
to be unravelled, his knowledge of the inscrutable decrees 
of the Divinity, suggests the necessity of patiently yielding 
to his power. It hence appears there is a possibility of 
being tranquil in our most afflictive trials in life. In proof 
of this, I give the following list of learned authors who suffered 
imprisonment, and who found that the consolation and pleasure 
their enemies wished to deprive them of was always at hand, 
when the writing-desk was resorted to. 

One of our biographers says, "Imprisonment has not 
always disturbed the man of letters in the progress of his 
studies, but has often unquestionably greatly promoted 
them." 

Sir Walter Ealeigh wrote his " History of the World " in 



310 



DICKSON ON THE HISTORY 



his eleven years' imprisonment. It was written for the use of 
Prince Henry. 

Bunyan wrote his " Pilgrim's Progress" in prisoD. 

Selden, the learned, wrote in prison the " History of 
Eadmor." 

Buchanan, in a monastic dungeon in Portugal, composed 
his ' ' Paraphrases of the Psalms." 

Boethius compiled his work on the ' 1 Consolations of 
Philosophy " in prison. 

Cardinal Polignac wrote the ■ ' Anti-Lucretius " in exile. 

Cervantes .wrote his * ' Don Quixote " when in captivity in 
Barbary. 

Grotius wrote his " Commentary on St. Matthew/' and 
other works, in confinement. 

Margaret, Queen of Henry IV. of France, confined in the 
Louvre, pursued warmly the study of polite literature, and 
composed a skilful apology for the irregularities of her 
conduct. 

Voltaire sketched, and partly composed, the plan of the 
"Henriade," during his imprisonment in the Bastile. 

Sir W. Davenant finished his poem of " Gondibert," during 
his confinement in Carisbrook Castle ; and many others might 
be added to the list. 

On this subject the author can speak feelingly and from 
dear bought experience^ as a subsequent narrative will testify.* 

Having now, in the year 1863, brought out in public the 
first lot of yarn and cloth made from the fibres of India, 
rheea, plantain, Flax, and hemp, spun separately and mixed 
with cotton, all of which I had spun from time to time, on 
silk, Flax, worsted and cotton machinery, commencing in 

* The Rheea Fibre Company, with a Jew Tailor as Chairman, a Jew 
Solicitor, a Jew Book-keeper and the choice man of the Chairman, as 
Secretary. See the end for the cause of the failure of the Eheea Fibre 
Company 



OF MEN OF GENIUS. 



311 



1858, and following up by experiments, until in September, 
1862, I had my prepared rheea fibre spun on cotton 
machinery, by the Messrs Birley Brothers, cotton-spinners in 
Preston, a difficulty that the spinners of cotton in Manchester 
thougli it impossible to get over. Thomas Bazley, Esq., M.P. 
for Manchester, wrote me in 1881 to say, my material, rheea, 
&c, &c, sent (by the advice of the Earl of Derby) to the 
Manchester Chamber of Commerce, " would never come in 
for the industry of Lancashire, but it might be, of great 
advantage and used by Flax-spinners," but in June, 1862, 
I informed him of having it spun by Messrs. John 
Crossley and Sons, on their cotton machinery in Halifax. 
See his, Mr. Bazley' s letter of congratulation on my success 
at the end of this book, dated 28th .June, 1862. Believing 
that the time will come when the rheea fibre will in a great 
degree take the place of cotton, because of its not only being a 
stronger, and an equally fine material, but not so expensive in 
producing as cotton, inasmuch as once it is planted it requires 
no labour or looking after for twenty years, further than to cut 
it as we do basket-willows, and carry the rods to be stripped 
by the machinery, I now finish so far the labour of years, 
on the fibre subject by introducing from the work of my late 
friend, Dr. F. Royle, what will no doubt be interesting to those 
who desire to see our great Indian Empire more prosperous by 
their supplying us with fibres, that will clothe our people, in 
place of our depending on the slave-grown cotton of America, 
a matter so ruinous to the owners of property in Lancashire 
and the working classes of that great manufacturing district of 
this country during the years of 1862, 1863, and 1864. 



PART V 



Eminent men of genial feeling — The Rheea fibre Company in the hands of 
Jews the real cause of failure — The late Dr. Royle's work on the fibre plants 
of India — The value of Bombay hemp before and after being prepared by 
Dickson's patent machines when sold in Liverpool— The first yarns and cloth 
made from Rheea fibre, exhibited by the Society of Arts, in May 1860, 
(Thomas Bazley, Esq., M.P., in the chair,) to assist Dr. Watson to lecture on 
the value of'Tndian fibres — Estimates of a factory to prepare the fibres, cost of 
machinery, labour and profit by working — Observations on the patent machines 
for preparing green unsteeped Fkx or hemp as it comes from the field, and the 
produce certified by letters and references — Yarns first spun on Flax machinery 
by Dickson's patent process of preparing fibres in Leeds — Yarns and cloth spun 
and woven on worsted machinery and also on cotton machinery from Rheea 
fibre, Elax and hemp, all cottonized, and in a book sent by the noble Earl of 
Derby to the Manchester Relief Committee— Rope yarns spun at Chatham 
Dockyards twenty per cent, stronger by Dickson's patent machines, than any 
ever spun on the establishment, and cause of it being kept back since 
10th January, 1860 — Rev. George Rowe, of York, on Indian fibres — The 
supplies of Rheea and similar fibres from Jamaica — Sir W. Hooker and 
Mr. N. Wilson on the certainly of a supply — Notice of piracy of Dickson's 
patent liquid to spinners — The acts of bubble companies to catch the patentee — 
Colonel Abbott's reports on the expenses and profit of cultivating Rheea fibre 
in India before he left London in 1863 — Value of Rheea fibre by Dickson's 
patent inventions compared with Messrs. Marshall's value in Leeds, by letters 
of Dr. E. Royle — The value of green unretted Elax and hemp and also New 
Zealand Elax prepared by Dickson's patent process, when shown and ordered 
by seven Leeds Elax-spinning firms — Value of the waste for paper — Cottonized 
Elax, Ireland's hope, with the aid of the power-loom recommended by his 
excellency (Lord Wodehouse) the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the second day 
after his arrival — The patentee, Dickson, being the first to introduce power- 
looms into Ireland in 1838 and correspondence with his excellency on the 
subject — The Standard Newspaper v. The Elax movements in Ireland. 

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE PRINCIPAL FIBRES TO 
WHICH THE PATENTED PROCESSES ARE 
APPLICABLE. 



The wild rheea of the East and West Indies, China grass, 
pine-apple, plantain, aloe, and the Himalaya hemp, jute, 



PICKS ON ON THE FIBRES OF INDIA. 



313 



and Flax, Neilgherrie nettle, Assam grass and many other 
fibres, all of which can be obtained in abundance, as stated 
in the works published by the authority of the East India 
Company. 

Dr. Forbes Boyle, the late eminent botanist to the East 
India Company, in his work published in 1855, draws the 
attention of the public, in the strongest manner, to the various 
fibres of India as possessing the most valuable commercial 
character. At page 376, he concludes : — " When some of the 
improved methods of separating fibre are successfully applied 
to such plants as the rheea and wild rheea, the benefits to 
Jndia and the world will be incalculable. For they are 
exceeded by none in fineness, excell all others in strength, and 
may he both compared to the trunk of the elephant, which can 
pick up a needle or root up a tree" 

Of the rheea, says Colonel Vitch (Col. Ind. Kep., 1859, 
p. 202) : "I believe it stands at the head of all fibres. It has 
only been used as yet by fishermen for their nets. It is found 
to be exceedingly strong, and capable of resisting the action 
of water : it is capable of being produced in great abundance 
— the great obstacle to its extension is on account of the 
quantity of labour required to remove the fibre from the stalks. 
It is all stripped off by the nail ; we have not been able to 
find out any machinery that will separate it from the stalk." 

Of the Himalayan hemp, Dr. Royle's book says: — "The 
hemp grown on our mountains, and in the valleys, is far 
superior in strength to the samples of Russian hemp which 
have been sent by the Court of Directors. On showing these 
to the hill growers of hemp, they declared that were they to 
produce such an inferior article, it would scarcely find a sale. 
— No Russian hemp will come near it in quality. — The 
essentially good qualities of the hemp grown in the Himalayas 
consisting in its strength, divisibility, fineness, and softness 
of the fibres of much of what is grown there, will make it, 



314 



DICKSON ON THE VALUE 



when known, very desirable for many purposes. It has 
appeared, to all the practical men who have since then 
examined it, as the strongest fibres with which they were 
acquainted." 

Its capability for ship's rigging and ropes is beyond all 
question. At Government trials, while St. Petersburg 
hempen ropes broke at 169 lbs. strain, Himalayan did not 
break at 400 lbs. Again at recent trials conducted by Mr. 
Dickson, at Chatham, while Russian hemp yarn broke at 
130, that prepared green by Dickson's process broke only at 
170; this was 40 lbs. in favour of Dickson's patent. (See 
pp. 523 to 525). 

Jute is the best known fibre of India to our manufactures, 
and is, perhaps, the more important on account of its peculiar 
characteristics, and being an acknowledged staple and in 
great demand. The quantity imported into this country now 
reaches to nearly 700,000 cwts. annually. Mr. Henley says 
of this plant : — " In preparing jute, the cultivators push the 
water-retting process to its utmost limits, short of actually 
destroying the fibre, by excessive putrefaction." And he 
adds Bengal jute has now attained such an important 
position in the commerce of the world, that any suggestion for 
its improved production merits attention ; and there can be 
no doubt, but that the application to it of the process of 
preparing the fibre zvithoiit water-retting would effect the most 
signal improvements in its quality." 

This has been sufficiently demonstrated by J. H. Dickson in 
his treatise on the " Growth and Preparation of Flax and its 
kindred Fibres." 

Were jute prepared by the process hereafter referred to, it 
would be a fibre of the most valuable kind, possessing 
qualities of peculiar excellence, and commanding an extensive 
sale. 

Hitherto, all these fibres have been comparatively useless, 



OE HIS PATENTED MACHINES. 



315 



because no machinery, or process, has been found to discharge 
the stiff gums and resinous matter. The discovery of Dickson's 
patent process, and the improvement effected by it on the 
quality of these fibres, is consequently invaluable* 

Another Indian authority, Dr. Hunter, says very truly, that 
the fibre of all plants would be better if prepared without 
water-steeping. 

The patented machines and processes of Dickson's have come 
opportunely to meet this important want ; they are applicable 
to all the above-named fibres, and also the European Flax and 
hemp direct from the field, without any water-steeping what- 
ever; thus effecting a great economy as well as improvement 
of quality. 

Dr. Royle says (p. 132) : " I gave Mr. Dickson several of 
these fibres, and he returned them to me in a few days in a 
state in which I was scarcely able to recognise them, from 
their soft and silky hair-like appearance ; and I have little 
doubt, but that the progress of experiment will show that this 
change can be effected at a comparatively small cost." 

On all the ordinary Flax and hemp of Europe, the patented 
processes will produce twenty per cent, more fibre from the same 
weight of plants, than if the old process of water-retting was 
resorted to in preparing it. Further, it will improve the fine- 
ness of the Flax, and preserve its strength at least twenty 
per cent. 

As regards tropical plants, several of them have been found 
suitable as a substitute for, and also to mix with, silk, cotton, 
wool, and alpaca in yarns, having the property of receiving 
the dye in the same vat with the wool ; a most important 
advantage, now for the first time secured by these patented 
processes, and proved by Mr. Sykes, a dyer in Leeds, at the 
meeting of the British Association in 1858, when a carpet 
manufacturer, named Wilkinson, avowed it could not be done. 
See Leeds Mercury, and other intelligent newspapers, on the 
subject. 



316 



DICKSON ON THE ADVANTAGE AND COST 



A most material advantage is, that the waste or tow from 
all these plants is admirably adapted for paper of the best 
description, and the value of it for that purpose cannot be less 
than from £20 to £30 per ton ; or it can be sold at a good 
profit of ten per cent, less than the best material now used. 
The profit of this waste* will alone pay all the first cost of the 
material. 

As examples of the profit derivable from working these 
patents, the following results have been obtained by the first 
machines constructed. 

Bombay native-prepared rough hemp, at £15 per ton, re- 
dressed by Dickson's patent machines, only at an extra cost 
of £4 per ton, sold at £35 10s. per ton. by Messrs. Stephens, 
Brothers, Liverpool. 

The rheea fibres can be imported here at from £20 to £30 
per ton. The better qualities can be worked, by this process, 
to a condition for spinning and manufacturing into silk and 
worsted mixed goods. 

J . H. Dickson has offers from responsible parties to supply 
a definite amount of the rheea immediately and con- 
tinuously, 700 tons being contracted for to be delivered within 
twelve months in London, at £25 per ton. 

It may be further stated, that several East India firms are 
willing to supply any quantity of several of these tropical 
fibres, delivered in London, at from £15 to £30 per ton; and 
the whole average cost of manufacture will be only £12 to 
£16 per ton, by Dickson's patents, when in operation on a 
full working scale. 

A complete set of machines will cost about £3,500, 
including the motive power, and which will work about a 
ton a day. 

* When I say waste, I mean the shorts or sweepings of the clean floors, 
where the material will be combed that will be too short (not half an inch long) 
to be spun on cotton or worsted machinery, as I have had bank-note paper made 
from it by Messrs. Grosvenor, Chater and Co., New Cannon Street, London. 



OF PREPARING RHEEA, FLAX, HEMP, ETC. 



317 



The patents did comprise two distinct machioes, and chemical 
process. Now all has been brought into one machine. 

1. The Breaking Machine breaks out all the woody parts 
of the plant; the Scutching Machine cleans, separates, and 
heckles the fibres in a new mode, superior to any hitherto 
used; and the Cleansing Liquid takes out all the gum, and 
makes it perfectly clean and soft for spinning, the entire process 
being quite simple and easily intelligible, and capable of 
being managed by an ordinary workman, no skilled scutcher 
being required to work these machines. 

2. Throughout the whole process, no acid, fixed alkali, or 
deleterious ingredient is used ; on the contrary, the liquid 
employed, amongst other benefits, enables the fibres to bleach 
and take the dye with peculiar ease, and with much less time 
and trouble than by the existing process. 

3. The expense of working will rather be diminished than 
increased, as the material can be prepared in much less time, 
and none of the skilled labour now required need be employed 
at all. A running stream of water, that is soft and clear, is 
indispensable in the saving of expense in bleaching and 
finishing. 

The great commercial value of Mr. Dickson's discoveries 
and patented inventions, has been testified to by several of the 
best authorities on Indian matters. On May 9th, I860, Mr. 
Dickson exhibited to the members of the Society of Arts* 
forty varieties of goods, manufactured from Indian fibres, 
prepared by his process and machines by Mr. W. Whittaker, 
a partner of one of the first-class firms (Messrs. Milligan, 
Forbes, and Co.) in Bradford, Yorkshire. These goods 

* Thos. Bazley, Esq., M.P. for Manchester, was in the chair at the meeting, 
and Colonel Sykes, M.P., Chairman of the Hon. East India Company, Mr. 
Hadfield, M.P., and a numerous attendance of ladies and gentlemen were 
present to examine the first yarns and goods spun and manufactured in England, 
through Dickson's inventions, from the wild fibres of India. 



318 



DICKSON ON THE COST OF HIS 



were exhibited at the instance of Dr. Watson, the successor 
of the late Dr. Forbes Koyle, for the purpose of illustrating 
his lecture on the " Chief Fibre-yielding Plants of India," 
which he delivered in the evening of that day to the Society. 
They were considered most valuable specimens of a new 
manufacture, and calculated to produce much novelty in our 
textile fabrics, and to become of as much utility in the manu- 
facture of fabrics for personal attire as have been the fibres of 
the alpaca, and which, until the patented discovery of Mr. 
Salt, were considered of little value. 

I furnished Dr. Watson with fibres that covered the tables 
for his lecture, at his request by letter, and it was by my 
patent process that Mr. Whit taker, whom I supplied with 
rheea fibre, produced the yarns and cloth (the first ever 
made in England), and although I lent this aid to the doctor, 
to enable him to practically point out the value of the 
material he selected for his coming before (as I am informed, 
the first time) an audience, I am obliged to say he avoided to 
mention in his lecture the name of the patentee who, at his 
request, and at considerable expense, supplied him. It is not 
for me to express an opinion, as to the cause of the doctor 
forgetting the common civility of life under such circum- 
stances, but if it was not a noble act to overlook the assistance 
he had from me, he took care to especially thank the noble 
broker, who could give him nothing to lecture on — one thing 
is certain, if the late Doctor Eoyle had been lecturing on the 
fibre plants of India, his letters to me proves I should not 
have been so treated. 



MACHINERY, LABOUR, AND PROFIT. 



319 



ESTIMATE FOR THE MACHINERY, ENGINE, 
BOILERS, SHAFTING, ETC., REQUIRED TO 
WORK J. HILL DICKSON'S PATENTS 
ON FULL SCALE, 

Including Machines Preserving Liquid, Coal and Wages, for 
preparing India Puheea, Plantain, Aloe, Neilgherry Nettle^ and 
similar Fibres, Place, Hemp, and New Zealand Flax. 

PLANT. 





£ 


s. 


a, 


A full size Breaking Machine ... 


350 








Twelve scutching machines, £100 each 


1,200 








Three' washing machines, £80 each. . . 


240 


o 

u 


o 
u 


Three wringing machines, £50 each 


150 








Shafting, Riggers, and Pulleys 


100 








Pipes and Cocks 


100 








Driving Bands 


50 








Six Vats, lined with zinc, £15 each 


90 








Four silk combing machines, £30 each 


120 








Two American patent combing machines 800 








Two Screw Gill Slivering Machines, 








£50 each 


100 








Two Carding Engines, £120 each . . . 


210 








Engineers and Labour fitting up . . . 


100 








One 15 -horse power Condensing 








Engine 


£180 








Two 15 -horse power Boilers 


70 








Setting the same in Brickwork, 








building Chimney-shaft, &c. 


100 









£3,110 



350 



Total cost ... £3,190 



320 



DICKSON ON THE COST OF HIS 



ESTIMATED PEOFITS FKOM WOKKING. 
The above named Machines will turn off from five to six tons 
per week of clean, marketable fibre, with the following workers : 



2 men at Breaker, 20s. per week 


£2 








6 Girls attending, 5s. do. ... 


1 


10 





12 do. Scutching, 6s.6d. do. ... 


3 


18 





6 do. attending, 5s. do. ... 


1 


10 





3 do. Washing, 6s. do. ... 





18 





3 do. Wringing, 6s. do. ... 





18 





6 do. attending, 5s. do. ... 


1 


10 





3 Men at the Vats, 18s. do. ... 


2 


14 





3 Girls attending, 5s. do. ... 


n 
u 


10 


A 

u 


1 Silk Combing Machine Manager 








35s. per week 


1 


15 





6 Boys attending, 15s. per week 


4 


10 





2 boys slivering engine 15s. do. 


1 


10 





2 boys carding do. 15s. do. 


1 


10 





2 men at the Boilers, 20s. do. 


2 


•0 





1 Manager, 42s. do. 


2 


2 






Total 58 Hands, at Weekly wages £29 

Five tons of Dickson's prepared rheea* 
would be worth Is. 6d. per lb., or 

£168 per ton " ...£840 

r Liquid, £6 per ton £30 
Wages 29 

Cost of rheea, six 

Deduct 4 , , n Q n 

tons, at £30 per 

ton 180 

.Coals ... "... ... 6 

— — ; 245 o o 

Net weekly profit £595 

or £30,900 per annum. 



* J. Hill Dickson hadorders for 250 tons of prepared rheea, at £168 per 
ton, tor French spinners, amounting to £42,000, but the Jew Company obliged 
him to refuse the order. 



MACHINERY, LABOUR, AND PROFIT. 



321 



This estimate being made out when I made use of the patents 
taken out in 1859, for preparing material for silk, worsted and 
Flax-spinners only, the liquid cost £6 per ton, but by my late 
discovery for cottonizing such fibres for cotton- spinners use, 
the liquid will not cost £2 per ton. 

Six tons of Dickson's prepared clean fine 
white finished Flax, worth £75 per 

ton 450 

Forty-two tons of 
Flax -straw £4 

per ton 168 

Deduct ^ Wages for breaking 

and scutching ... 29 
Liquid, £5 per ton 30 

Coals 6 

■ 233 



Net weekly profit . 
or £11,284 per annum. 



£217 



Five tons of Dickson's prepared Italian 
green hemp, white and fine, £70 per 

ton ... ... 

' Cost of six tons of 
broken Italian 

hemp 125 

Deduct <{ Scutching at £4 per 

ton, wages ... 20 

Liquid 20 

Coals 6 



350 



£171 



x 



Net weekly profit 
or £9,308 per annum. 



. £179 



322 DICKSON ON THE PROFITS AND REFERENCE 



Five tons of New Zealand Flax (Phor- 

mium Tenax), £60 per ton 300 

f Cost of six tons of 
undressed New- 
Zealand, at £20 120 
Deduct ^ Wages for breaking 

and scutching . 29 
Liquid 30 

Coals 6 

. 185 

Net weekly profit £215 

or £11,180 per annum. 

In addition to this profit there is one-fourth of shorts or tow, 
worth £30 to £36 and £56 per ton to be added ; also one ton is 
allowed for waste in the Flax, hemp, and the New Zealand Flax 
preparation. Mr. Dickson has been getting 2s. per lb. for 
the rheea in Bradford, when combed, although, in estimating 
the profits, he quotes it at Is. 6d. per lb. 



By the patent machine and processes, Flax and hemp, 
from green unretted Flax and hemp straw, may be prepared 
in from thirty minutes to three hours, according to the quality 
of the material to be prepared, and for re-dressing (scutching 
&c, &c.,) Irish hand-scutched, Friesland and Egyptian 
native-scutched Flax, and also for re-dressing (thoroughly 
cleansing,) New Zealand Flax (Phormium Tenax), Bombay, 
Madras, Himalayan, Russian, Prussian, and Italian hemp. 
The patent process will increase the value of each and all of 
the above more than one-third in the markets of Great 
Britain and Ireland, with the further advantage, that any 
common labourer or girl can attend the machines, no skilled 
scutchers being required. 

The Honourable the East India Company having sent to 
the patentee's factory, Deptford, forty bales of Indian fibres, 



AS TO PRODUCTION BY HIS MACHINES. 



323 



part of which, when finished by the patent liquid, were 
taken by maoufaturers in Amiens and Lyons, and spun and 
woven into velvets and plush with such success, that several 
applications have been made for licences to work or use the 
patents. The patentee, having terms proposed to him by 
the London agent of an Amiens and Lyons firm for a license 
for the kingdoms of France and Belgium, begs to inform 
spinners and manufacturers, that having refused to supply the 
Amiens and Lyons parties with the machinery and license to use 
the patents , he is now prepared to supply the public with 
machines, at prices varying from £50 to £250 each, to be 
worked by either manual, water, or steam power, and to 
grant the right and give instructions as to the use of the 
said patents, in India, France, Belgium, Holland, Austria, 
Italy, Prussia, Russia, Spain, Great Britain and Ireland, the 
United States of America, and Canada. The patent breaking 
and also the patent scutching machine can be turned by 
two men, and with three boys or girls attending the feeding, 
the produce will be from 1J to 2 cwt. of Flax, hemp, 
rheea, or any other fibre, thoroughly scutched and combed 
daily. Mr. Gardiner, of the firm of Messrs. Gardiner and 
Mackintosh, Engineers, Railway Works, New Cross, London, 
witnessed 14 lbs. of Bombay hemp being scutched and combed 
in half-an-hour, and only one pound loss in preparing, in 
June 1863, at Nye's Wharf, Old Kent Road, Fibre Works. 
This was done by steam power. 

From among many experiments made by the various manu- 
facturers in spinning yarns from fibres prepared by J. Hill 
Dickson on his patented system, from wild rheea, wild hemp, 
Bombay and Madras hemp, Neilgherry nettle, pine-apple, 
plantain and aloe fibres, Russian hemp, and Polish rhyne, 
and Italian hemp, New Zealand, Irish, and Yorkshire Flax, 
the following are selected : — 

Yarns from No. 30 lea to 80 spun by Messrs Hives and 



324 



DICKSON ON THE RHEEA FIBRE, 



Atkinson and the under-mentioned Flax-spinners of Leeds, 
from green unretted Yorkshire and Irish Flax straw, after 
being prepared by Dickson's patents : — 

Yarns from No. 18 lea to No. 35, spun by Messrs. Benyon 
and Co. from rheea fibre. 

Yarns from No. 10 lea to No. 30, spun by Messrs. Briggs 
and Co. from rheea fibre. 

Yarns from No. 10 lea to No. 12, spun by Messrs. Hill and 
Son from rheea fibre. 

Yarns from rheea fibre, spun by Messrs. Lister and Co., on 
worsted machinery. 

Yarns from rheea fibre and mixed, half sheep's wool, by 
worsted spinners of Yorkshire. 

Yarns from rheea fibre and mixed, half silk, by worsted 
spinners of Yorkshire. 

Yarns from rheea fibre, spun as silk, by silk spinners of 
Yorkshire. 

Yarns from rheea tow, for carpets, by a carpet manufac- 
turer, Bath. 

The Nos. 30, 35 and 80 leas, spun by Messrs. Hives and 
Atkinson from green unretted Flax, are stronger yarns than 
if from retted Flax. 

The Nos. 30 and 35 lea, from rheea fibre spun by the 
same firm, is eqaul to Flax at one third less cost. 

The Nos. 30 and 35 lea, from Russian and Italian Hemp^ 
spun by the same firm, is equal to Flax yarn at double the 
price. 

From these have been manufactured velvet and plush made 
from the rheea fibre, and cambric and canvass drill, plain 
cloth, diaper; also moreens, damasks, Orleans, etc., and 
tailor's threads, in the brown state, dyed permanent black. 

Several samples of yarns spun, and canvass cord and drill 
cloth manufactured in the North of England in 1858, from 
materia,! prepared by Mr. Dickson, were sent by the order of 



YARN AND CLOTH BY WORSTED MACHINERY. 325 



the Earl of Derby to the Lords of the Admiralty, who had 
them critically examined by competent men, and afterwards 
forwarded them to Dr. Hooker for deposit and exhibition in 
the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, as samples of a new 
man ufacture, and similar samples were exhibited at the Leeds 
Exhibition, in 1858. 

Yarns and cloth were spun and woven from the rheea 
fibre and mohair mixed, by Messrs. John Foster and Son, 
Bradford, in 1860. 

Yarns and cloth were spun and woven from rheea alone by 
Messrs. Bairstow, Brothers, of Bradford, in 1860. 

Yarns and cloth were spun and woven by Mr. Henry 
Mason, from rheea alone, in Bradford, in 1860. 

Yarns were spun from rheea alone by Mr. W. Ramsden, in 
Bradford, in 1860. 

. Yarns were spun from rheea alone by Messrs. Addison, 
Brothers, in 1860. 

Yarns and cloth spun from rheea and cotton mixed, on 
cotton machinery, by Berley, Brothers, Preston, in 1861. 

A book, containing samples of the above described cloth 
and yarn, has been examined by the members of the Cotton 
Supply Association, and the members of the Manchester 
Chamber of Commerce, and also by the Executive Relief 
Committee, at their rooms, through the noble Earl of 
Derby's courtesy, and desire to forward the views of the 
patentee : — 

61 Knowsley, January 12, 1864. 
11 Sir, — On my return from Manchester yesterday, I 
received your book of samples. Your letter of the 9th did 
not reach me till this morning. As I go up to town on 
Friday, I shall not have another opportunity of conferring 
personally with the Executive Committee ; but I forward your 
letter and the book to the Secretary, who will lay them 
before the Committee, and any other manufacturers who 



326 



DICKSON ON THE VALUE OF HIS PATENT 



may wish to inspect them. It is, however, no part of the 
Committee's duty to enter into any negotiation for the pur- 
chase of patents, and I cannot hold out the slightest 
expectation to you of their entertaining your proposal. 

" I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 

" DERBY. 

" J. H. Dickson, Esq." 

I did not expect that the Committee, as a body, would 
entertain my proposal, but I felt pretty confident, that as the 
noble earl had been the early and chief promoter of the 
relief fund, that the honour he conferred on me, by intro- 
ducing my cottonized rheea fibre, Flax and hemp, prepared 
for being spun on cotton machinery, and also yarn and cloth 
made from them by cotton machinery to the Committee, that 
it would create great inquiry for my prepared material, and 
also machinery, and I am 'happy to say, I have had some 
dozens of applications for machines and licence to work them, 
from Blackburn, Manchester, Bradford, and Oldham. 

It must be evident to those who may read the above 
letter from the noble Earl of Derby to the patentee, that, if 
his lordship had been Prime Minister in 1860, when the 
following trial was made on the Italian hemp, prepared by 
his patent machines at Chatham, and not reported on to the 
Government, that such injustice would not have been allowed 
to remain without investigation, if brought before the noble 
earl; however Lord Palmerston shall have a copy of this 
work, and I shall again call his attention to the value of my 
machines for rope making, with a hope to another trial on a 
larger scale. 



MACHINES EOR ROPE-MAKING. 



227 



ADVANTAGES OF THE PATENTED SYSTEM 

IN THE 

PREPARATION OE HEMP EOR STRONG ROPE AND CORDAGE, 
As demonstrated at the Instance of the Lords of the Admiralty on 
the 10th of January f I860, the particulars of which were to 
he sent to their Lordshijps by 

OAPT. GOLDSMITH, C.B., 
SUPERINTENDENT IN HER MAJESTY'S DOCKYARD 
AT CHATHAM. 

The experiments were entirely under the direction of the 
dockyard authorities, and took place in the presence of 
Captain Goldsmith, C.B., superintendent*; Mr. Lawes, store- 
keeper ; Mr. Pope, master rope-maker ; Mr. Taylor, assistant 
rope-maker ; and the patentee, Mr. Dickson. The hemp was 
worked on rope yarns, spun on two machines in the spinning 
department of the dockyard, both machines being prepared 
for spinning No. 25 for rope ; and the result, as recorded by 
the dockyard authorities, was as follows : — 

1 1 Rope manufactured from Italian hemp, green as it was 

* Captain Goldsmith and Mr. Lawes both promised that the result of the 
above trial should be placed before the Lords of the Admiralty, and Mr. Lawes 
gave me the particulars above stated, and up to last summer, 1862, I found by 
a letter I wrote to Lord Palmerston on the subject, that no report had been sent 
to the Admiralty. It thus appears to me, that if a reward be offered by the 
Admiralty for an improved method of preparing material for rope yarn, " No 
Irish need apply" at Chatham. However, I shall shortly ask Lord Clarence 
Paget if he (as Secretary to that branch of the service), considers the ingenuity 
of Irishmen at such a discount, that they should not havs a chance of intro- 
ducing improvements in the art of rope-making into Her Majesty's dockyards, 
and if I have as little satisfaction from his lordship on the subject as I had from 
Lord Palmerston, I must put patriotism on one side, and try my luck at head-, 
quarters in Prance, by soliciting His Majesty the Emperor of the French to 
allow me the honour of having my prepared hemp tried in His Majesty's 
dockvards. 



328 



DICKSON ON THE VALUE OF HIS PATENT 



taken from the field, without any retting or liquid process, but 
prepared by Mr. Dickson's patent machines. 

42 J fathoms of No. 25 rope yarn, weighing 15§oz., 



was subjected, before breaking, to a strain of . 172lbs. 
Ditto ditto ditto 178 „ 

Ditto ditto ditto 162 „ 

In three several trials of strength . . . 512 „ 

Average breaking strain . . 170 „ 



Petersburgh hemp, retted as usual, and spun into No. 25 
yarn for rope. 

42J fathoms of No. 25 rope yarn, weighing lOJoz., 
had three several trials under the same circum- 



stances, and broke at a strain of 138lbs. 

Ditto ditto ditto 139 ,, 

Ditto ditto ditto 116 ,, 

In three several trials of strength . . . 393 

Average breaking strain . . 131 ,, 



Mr. Dickson's Italian hemp, being perfectly free from 
wood, resin, or dust, it spun up hard, level, and close ; and, 
although not heckled, the authorities thought it equal in 
weight to No. 20 rope yarn spun from their Russian hemp ; 
and Mr. Dickson having proposed that his Italian green hemp, 
No. 25 yarn, should be placed in competition with the 
Eussian hemp, No. 20 rope yarn (an article largely used in 
the manufacture of rope in the dockyards) with one-fifth 
more in weight than No. 25. The result of the latter experi- 
ment was as follows : — 

No. 20 rope yarn, No. 1 strain, broke . 139lbs. 
J? 55 » 2 ,, . 119 ,, 

5, 5 5 3 j, „ . . 145 ,, 



403 „ 



MACHINES FOR ROPE-MAKING. 



329 



The three strains of No. 20 broke at an average of 1 34lbs., 
this is 36 in favour of Dickson's patent. 
The best three-inch rope, made from retted 

Petersburgh hemp, No. 25 yarn, broke tons. cwts. qrs. lbs. 

at a strain of 4 7 2 

Whilst three-inch rope made from unretted 

Italian green hemp, No. 25 yarn, would 

not break at a less strain than . . 5 3 2 10 

Looking at the result in favour of the Italian hemp 
prepared by MACHINERY ALONE (without the expense and 
loss by RETTING or STEEPING in water) as it is pulled 
and carried from the field, at a saving of 25 per cent., and 
a gain in strength of 20 per cent., surely the Lords of the 
Admiralty will not continue the use of the less strong 
Russian retted, or rather rotted material, for the outfit 
of the British navy, when better and stronger material can 
be had from India, Canada, and other of our colonies, 
which, if prepared by Dickson's machines alone, will not only 
be more economical, but will make stronger ROPES and 
RIGGING for our ships, and on which depends the safety of the 
national property as much as it does on the necessity for safety 
in using sound timber in building our ships of war. In a 
word — if the lives of our brave fellows who have to stand 
the battle and the breeze, are to be cared for, surely they 
should have ropes and canvass, such as will stand a gale and 
carry them through a storm; or stand the sharper tug of 
war, in battle. 

As parties interested in matters connected with the dock- 
yard management will naturally say, how was it that 
Dickson's patent method of preparing and producing the 
stronger material dropped off, or never got introduced at 
Chatham, I am obliged, in self-defence, to repeat a few facts 
that came to my knowledge on my second visit to the dock- 
yards at Chatham. 



330 



DICKSON ON THE VALUE GE HIS PATENT 



On my first visit I had only a few pounds of green hemp 
and a quantity of rheea fibre, and the master rope-maker told 
me I must have at least half a hundred-weight of each, as they 
could not spin less. I therefore left what I had brought 
down, and returned to London, and in ten days after I sent 
another bale of green hemp down, and followed it to the 
dockyard ; on my arrival at the hotel I met a party who had 
heard that in my absence the few pounds I had left had been 
spun and tested, and that it was so much stronger than any 
ever spun in the yard previous to mine being spun that the 
rope-makers were determined not to spin it. I had my 
suspicion when I left it, that I would not get fair play, and I 
caused a friend of mine, Capt. Adderley Sleigh to write to 
Capt. Goldsmith before I went down a second time, therefore 
I was well prepared for the result. I, therefore, called at 
once on Capt. Goldsmith, but took no notice of what I had 
heard, only that I knew that my stuff would stand 20 per 
cent., of a strain more than the best hemp in the stores, and 
I hoped he would see me get justice, as I thought the rope- 
makers were rather inclined not to spin my hemp. He then 
assured me I should have everything done, and he would see 
to it himself, and the strain trials were made by his direction 
in his presence, and I did expect that the promised result, so 
successful in my favour, would have been reported ; but no, 
the old hands do not like to see strangers introduce improve- 
ments that they have not been able to discover, after thirty or 
forty years' residence at their ease in the employment of Her 
Majesty, and consequently my superior method of cleaning 
hemp, before being spun, by which means the yarns are 
allowed to be twisted, more close, level and strong, was 
allowed to pass, as a matter not to be reported worthy of the 
notice of the Lords of the Admiralty. I was then negociating 
a sale of my patents to Mr. Whittaker, of Bradford, for 
£10,000, and was telegraphed to when at Chatham to 



MACHINES FOR ROPE-MAKING. 



331 



return to London, and I lost sight of the Chatham trial, 
expecting to close the sale to Mr. Whittaker ; but as he failed 
to carry out his purchase, after paying £850 on account, 
and my newly-invented machines are an improvement on 
those I had in 1860, I will, on the opening of Parliament, 
have the facts brought out, unless Lord Clarence Paget orders 
me to have a fair trial in some other of Her Majesty's 
dockyards. 

The patentee being applied to by the Rev. George Kowe, 
Government Lecturer on Geography, Training College, York, 
for a supply of his prepared Indian fibres with yarns and 
cloth made from them, for the purpose of illustrating his 
Lecture on the Fibre-yielding Plants of the East and West 
Indies, which he delivered on the 10th February, 18 61 — felt 
happy to forward to the care of the rev. gentleman, a well 
assorted box of his prepared fibres, &c, &c, and had, in a 
few days, the following letter in reply : — 

« 33, Lord Mayor's Walk, York. 
« February 12th, 1861. 
"DEAR Sir — I send off to-day by the Great Northern 
Parcels Office, the small card box filled with the specimens 
of the rheea fibre, &c, which you so kindly lent me for 
exhibition at the soiree of the Mechanics' Institute of this 
city, on Wednesday evening last. I believe you will find 
that I have taken the greatest care of them all ; and hope 
they will reach you safely. The samples, showing the gradual 
change from the rough stalk to the silky-looking fibre, were 
to me, and to others, extremely interesting; and I should 
rejoice in the possession of similar examples for future use. 
It was examined by several practical men from the West 
Biding, and no doubt expressed of its excellence and prospect 
of introduction if only one question could be solved — Can we 
depend upon a regular and large supply ? If so, we 



332 



DICKSON ON THE LABOUR AND THE 



think it may become such another success as the alpaca wool 
trade is. 

* 'The general application of your process, whereby a few 
hours is made to do the work of days on hemp, &c, also 
excited much admiration. Thanking you for the loan of 
this series of samples, and expressing the pleasure I shall have, 
to know that the 'new fibre' is working its way into suc- 
cessful competition with the old ones, 

" I am, dear sir, yours faithfully, 
(Signed.) "GEO. ROWE. 

"J. Hill Dickson, Esq." 

The rev. gentleman again requested colonized specimens 
for his lecture, in the month of February last, 1864, which I 
sent him. — J.H.D. 

SUPPLY OF MATERIAL. 

As the question of a regular supply of these new materials 
for spinning and manufacturing has been asked by the most 
extensive firms in Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, and Halifax, 
where the patentee exhibited the specimens in every stage of 
preparation, up to yarns and cloth, and all inquirers appeared 
to doubt the certainty of a supply being had, and consequently 
refused to aid, in any way, the patentee in his views of intro- 
ducing, through a public company, an additional supply of 
raw materials for our manufacturers ; and as Sir ¥m. 
Hooker did, at the request of Mr. Dickson, forward to him, 
from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, a large assortment of 
East and West Indian fibre-producing plants to prepare and 
finish for the Leeds Exhibition in the autumn of 1858, and 
has exhibited in the museum at Kew specimens of Mr. 
Dickson's prepared fibres, and yarns, and cloth made from 
them, and has written to him with most valuable information 
on the subject of a supply from Jamaica, where (as Sir 
William's letters prove) the material may be had in 



WEST INDIA QUESTION OF SUPPLY. 



333 



abundance ; and, in addition to this, a gentleman, 
who is well acquainted with the resources of Jamaica, 
Mr. Bourne, told Mr. Bazley, MP., and other Manchester 
gentlemen in the Chamber of Commerce, that there is a 
million of acres of land in Jamaica suitable to the growth of 
cotton, and the same will produce rheea, plantain, &c. ; and 
20,000 labourers could be had without inconvenience to other 
productions— who should feel for the wants or losses of the 
cotton-spinners or Bradford manufacturers, of £10,000,000 
annually, as Mr. Bazley tells us, when they could have, by 
giving employment to a portion of 100,000 people that are 
out of employment in the island, a good supply of rheea, 
a first-class substitute for wool, silk, alpaca, and mohair, 
and also cotton, all of which can be sent in less than a 
month's voyage to Manchester, Leeds, or Bradford. How- 
ever, as the Manchester spinners now appear "fully convinced 
of the impotency of depen dance on one source for a supply of 
cotton," it is to be hoped that they will not continue (like 
Paddy and the potatoes) to depend alone on one article, 
cotton, and doubt the spinning qualities of all other fibres, 
especially rheea. 

The patentee had the honour of being advised by the Earl 
of Derby, in April 1858, to address the President of the 
Chamber of Commerce, in Manchester, on the subject of his 
patents, and to draw his attention to the several specimens of 
rheea and other fibres, and was surprised on receiving the 
following cool and indifferent reply : — 

"Manchester Chamber of Commerce. — Extract from the 
Minutes — ' Resolved, that the vegetable fibres received from 
Mr. Dickson, and this day examined by the Board, would, if 
rendered capable* of being spun and manufactured, be a great 

* This is the material, the spinning quality of which the Manchester gentle- 
men thought doubtful ; however, the patentee got over all the difficulty on the 
cotton mills of Messrs. Berley, Brothers, in Preston, in October, 1862. 



334 



DICKSON ON THE EHEEA FIBRE 



acquisition to the textile industry of the country, but the 
Directors of this Chamber are of opinion that private enter- 
prise, rather than public patronage, should give practical 
effect to the laudable object which Mr. Dickson has in 
view/ " 

One would suppose, on reading this from Manchester men, 
that they never saw a thread of worsted or Flax-yarn, when 
they say "if rendered capable of being spun," &c. ; and as 
to their opinion that " private enterprise, and not public 
patronage," should aid the patentee, he cannot but think they 
now come forward with bad grace to apply to the government 
to do for them what they denied him to expect, as the intro- 
ducer of new material for spinning purposes, a fact that 
practical men admit is of national impoitance. 

The following from Sir W. Hooker will be found 
highly interesting to those who have doubts as to the supply 
of fibres : — 

" Eoyal Gardens, Kew, Nov. 28th, 1859. 
" Sir,— I could not answer for the green plants producing 
fibres, being cut and sent from Jamaica in a good state to 
London. I thought you wanted the fibre abstracted from the 
plant, and that Mr. Wi'son could manage. What you call 
rheea fibre Mr. Wilson mentions in his list as Bochmera nivea 
(its botanical name), at page 336 of the printed paper I sent 
to you. It is also sometimes called Urtica nivea and Urtica tena- 
cissima. They are all one and the same plant, which is also 
called China grass. I have sent out plants of it to Mr. 
"Wilson, and it might be cultivated in Jamaica to any extent.* 

* As Sir W. Hooker tells us that rheea can be grown to any extent in 
Jamaica, why don't Lancashire and Yorkshire spinners (who have tried these 
fibres, and have such evidence of their value) call on Sir C. Wood, the Secre- 
tary of State for India, and show him that it would be for the advantage of this 
great manufacturing country, if a free grant of land in India be given to a 
Company of British merchants, with a view to its being planted with rheea 
fibre. Who can look on the article in its prepared cottonized state, without 



BEING SPUN ON COTTON MACHINERY. 335 



e< You are not in the least likely to get jute or rheea fibre 
from any garden in Europe at this season. Jute is an ugly, 
weed-like plant, that nobody cares to cultivate, and it must be 
reared in a hot-house. I do not think anybody has it in 
England. We had it for two or three years, but nobody paid 
the least attention to it. 

"It is otherwise with the rheea fibre. We can grow that 
out of doors ; but then the first frost cuts it and kills it down 
to the ground. Still, it might be worth cultivating pretty 
largely in the south of England, and I have no doubt it 
would yield a good crop if only proper attention was paid 
to it. 

(i Generally speaking, the best fibres are ) in tropical 
countries, and those of the East Indies (jute, for example), 
might easily be reared in Jamaica, if it would sell and yield 
profit. I do not know if Mr. Wilson has yet reared jute in 
J amaica. 

" I should think the leaves of the American aloe would 
bear a long voyage well, and that Mr. Wilson can send ; but 
they would be bulky with all their pulp. 

" I am sorry to say, in the winter season, I very rarely go 
to London, or I would call upon you. In the spring I shall 
hope to do so. 

1 ' Your obedient servant, 

« W. J. HOOKER" 

Pine-apple, plantain, and aloe fibres can be had in any 
quantity in Jamaica. 

expressing their surprise that our rulers should allow the Lancashire operatives 
to starve, without making any move towards promoting the cultivation of the 
plant in India and our colonies. My hope now, in December 1864, is, that 
the M.P.'s into whose hands I shall place copies of this work will, in their 
place in Parliament in the coming spring, call on Her Majesty's government to 
encourage by some means the groAvth of such fibres, for the great want of 
material now so severely felt in Lancashire, especially when rheea fibre can be 
had in England at 2|d. per lb. ; a price that cotton cannot be produced at in 
any part of the world. 



336 



DICKSON ON MR. N. WILSON'S REPORT 



"Koyal Gardens, Kew, Nov. 19th, 1859. 
"Sm, — We have to thank you for some interesting fibres 
which we are arranging in our museum, with the name of 
your firm attached to them ; and I am very glad to learn that 
the various kinds of fibres are becoming better known and 
valued according to their merits. I explained to the very 
intelligent person who kindly brought out the fibres to us, 
that we can only assist you with the foliage or stems of such 
plants as can be well spared ; but that is seldom the case, 
except now and then with the rapid growing bananas or plan- 
tains, and, perhaps, of these not at the time you would most 
desire them. 

"In general we are so cramped for space that we only 
grow as much as we require to show the general nature of the 
plant. 

" I should strongly recommend your entering into corres- 
pondence with some intelligent person in the East or West 
Indies who takes an interest in such subjects ; and there is, 
in Jamaica, Mr. Nathaniel WilsDn, the intelligent superin- 
tendent of the Botanical Garden, Bath, Jamaica, a person 
who could give you a great deal of information about different 
fibres, and who would willingly communicate with you, and, 
for a reasonable remuneration, would procure and send to you 
ample samples of such fibres as you would desire to have, or 
to experiment upon. I send you some notes that may be 
published about the fibres of Jamaica, including those in 
cultivation there, as well as such as are indigenous. If you 
desire to correspond with him, you can make use of my name, 
or better still, you can enclose this note to him. 

" Your obedient servant, 

" W. J. HOOKER 



OE THE VEGETABLE FIBRES OF JAMAICA. 337 



MR. NATHANIEL WILSON ON THE USEFUL 
VEGETABLE PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY THE 
FIBRES OF JAMAICA. 

We have heard rumours, but we trust they are without 
foundation, of the want of government support to the Botanic 
Garden in Jamaica, and that Mr. N. Wilson, its active and 
very intelligent superintendent, has left, or is on the point of 
leaving the colony altogether. We have ourselves had occa- 
sion, in the great Paris Exhibition of the present year, to 
witness the necessity of some scientific knowledge, in the 
accurate determination of the plants which yield the various 
vegetable substances. The Jamaica collection there deposited, 
valuable as it is in extent, becomes tenfold more important 
from the correct nomenclature of the objects,, To say nothing 
of the "noble collections and fine specimens of the woods, &c, 
it contains a series of fibres of the island which is more in- 
structive than any other in the Exhibition, because of the 
great pains that have been taken by Mr, Wilson to give the 
scientific and vernacular names, rendering it quite clear 
what is the exact plant which produces such and such fibre ; 
while in other collections we find one and the same name — 
Pine-apple, aloe, Manilla hemp, &c, — attached to fibres from 
totally different (and to several kinds of) plants. Si nominee 
pqreunt, perit et cognitio rerum. Such names are worse than 
useless — they mislead. We believe the latest duties performed 
by Mr. Wilson in the island were to chaw up a report on the 
progress and usefulness of the Botanic Garden of Bath, St. 
Thomas the Apostle, for the past year, 1854, for the informa- 
tion of the Honourable the Board of Directors, and to prepare 
a full series of the fibres, &c, for the Paris Exhibition. As 
these fibres are described in the said report, we are tempted to 
offer the following extracts. 

"By a continuous and extensive distribution of plants from 
Y 



338 



DICKSON ON MR. N. WILSON'S REPORT 



this institution of late years, this Botanic Garden has, from a 
comparative state of obscurity, been brought into one of 
practical utility and national importance, evidenced by the 
dissemination of thousands of plants, both useful and in- 
teresting:, where such were never seen or heard of before. 
Consequently, the limits of this garden have rendered it 
totally inadequate to meet the exigency of the present 
demand, or to do anything like justice to the constantly 
accumulating collection of plants, being only one and three- 
quarter acres in extent. The new plants have therefore to be 
disposed without plan or arrangement, wherever a few feet of 
spare ground can be found, and consequently they, suffer 
much for want of space. You are aware of this circumstance, 
as I have mentioned it in my last report. My object in again 
bringing the subject to your notice is that you may, in con- 
junction with your general report on the state of the institu- 
tion, lay before the executive the circumscribed state and 
difficulties under which the Botanic Garden is now suffering ; 
in order that no time may be lost in remodelling, if possible, 
and placing the interests of the garden on an extensive, 
permanent, and useful basis, adequate to meet the increasing 
wants of the community, and to do justice to a popular, 
useful, and highly increasing science. 

" The Cappan and Cam dye-woods, nutmeg and cinnamon 
plants, have been distributed to all parts of the island, and I 
have still a few on hand. As to their perfect suitability to 
this climate and soil, none need entertain the slightest doubt. 
The distribution of plants in general have amounted to 1,720, 
all of which were fully established in baskets, so that no loss 
could possibly take place but by wilful neglect. 

" The desire for growing new plants and adopting new 
staples is daily on the increase, and the necessity of a more 
varied cultivation among our agriculturists has become indis- 
pensable in keeping pace with the times, and making the 



OF THE VEGETABLE FIBRES OF JAMAICA. 



339 



most of altered circumstances. I have many useful plants to 
recommend for this purpose before closing this report, whereby 
large tracts of waste land may be re-opened advantageously at 
little outlay. 

' 'The importation of plants last year has been unusually 
large, and of a varied description, comprising the following 
genera, viz. : — 



*Bheea. 

Bcehmeria nivea. 
Antiaris saccidora. 
Datura sanguinea. 
Jatropha panduraefolia. 
,Clerodendron macrophylluni. 
Hoya grandiflora. 
Ardisia acuminata. 
Pom ci ana GKlliesii. 
Plumbago Capensis. 
Van-Houttia calcarata. 
Medinilla speciosa. 
Nematanthus longipes. 
Habrothamus Schottii. 
Dipteracantlius affinis. 
Abutilion Van-Houttii. 



Gardenia Thunbergii. 
Bhodo^toma gardenioides. 
Groethea strictiflora. 
Coleus Blumei. 
Maranta sanguinea. 
Ixora coccinea, superba. 
Dipladenia splendens. 
Dipladenia urophylla. 
Hexacentris Mysorensis, 
Bhynchospermum jasmini- 

florum. 
Dracaena ferrea, var. 
Pterocarpus sp. from Pulo 

Penang. 
Boncleletia speciosa, major. 
Pandanus variegatas, &c, &c. 



' ' The first mentioned in the list is the celebrated grass-cloth 
plant, extensively cultivated in China, and whose fibres make 
the finest cloth the Chinese can boast of. I have not the 
slightest doubt as to its perfect adaptability to this climate and 
soil, and in the course of a few years it may become a weed. 
The Antiaris is the notorious Upas tree of Java, about whose 
virulent properties so many fabulous statements have appeared 
from time to time. The Pandanus variegatus is another 
addition to our textile plants, and one of the most noble and 
beautiful plants that ever adorned a garden; the others on 
the list are chieflly new and interesting, collected in many 
parts of the world, and selected for this climate. 

" By the acquisition of these plants, we can now boast of 



* Rheea cau be grown in Jamaica and delivered in London in four month's 
from the day the order is received in J amaica. 



340 



DICKSON ON MR. N. WILSON'S REPORT 



possessing the finest fibres and the greatest number of textile 
plants in the world, hitherto of no avail to the country in 
general, and held of little value by individuals, but which 
may now be turned to the greatest account in a national 
point of view; the universal demand and scarcity of fibre, 
its high and daily increasing price, rendering the materials 
from which it is manufactured of the highest importance. 
We have many indigenous and eminently textile plants 
diffused over the island, but partially or not at all known 
to be applicable for textile purposes, except to a few gentlemen 
acquainted with the botany of the country. I have, therefore, 
prepared for general information! fifty-one samples of fibres, 
the greater part of which are indigenous ; as you will observe 
by the following list comprising them :— 



* Yucca gloriosa. Adam's 
Needle, 5—6 ft. 

Yucca aloifolia. Common 
Dagger. 

*Bromelia Karatas. Silk- 
grass leaves, 10 — 12 ft. 

Bromelia Pinguin. Pinguin* 

* Ananas sativa. Pine-apple. 

*Musa sapientum. Banana. 

* „ var. Martinique Ba- 

nana. 

* „ paradisiaca. Plantain. 

* „ Cavendishii. Chinese 

Plantain. 

* „ violacea. Violet- 

flowered ditto. 
„ coccinea. Scarlet 
flowered ditto. 
*Heliconia Bihai. Wild Plan- 
tain. 

* „ Brasiliensis. Ditto 

of Brazil. 

* „ psittacorum. Parrot 

beak ditto. 
Tillandsia serrata. Wild 
Pine (epiphyte). 
„ usneoid.es. Wild Pine. 



Pandan us spiralis. Screw Pine. 
Agave Americana. American 
Aloe. 

*Canna Inclica. Indian Shot. 

Trhimfetta semitriloba. Com- 
mon Burbark — a weed. 

*Malvaviscus arboreus. Bastard 
or Wild Mahoe. 

Abroma augusta. Abroma,, 

Kydia calycina. Tree, 25 ft. 

Heh'cteres Jamaicensis. Screw 
Tree. 

Guazuma ulmifolia. Bastard 
Cedar. 

Kleinhoffia liospita. Tree, 25 — 
30 ft, 

Sida sp. Shrub, 6—8 feet. 
OcJiromalagopus. Down Tree. 
*Cecropia pellata. Trumpet 
Tree. 

Cordia JSebestena. Scarlet 
Cordia. 

Cordia Gerascantlius. Spanish 
Elm 

„ macropliylla. Man- 
jack, or broad leaved 
Cherry. 



OF THE VEGETABLE FIBRES OE JAMAICA, 



341 



Cordia Collococca. Clammy 

Cherry. 
Brosimum spurium. Milk 
Wood. 

Ficus elastica. India-rubber 
Tree. 

„ religiosa. Pepnl Tree. 
„ virens. Wild Fig Tree. 
,, Americana, Wild Fig 
Tree. 

Hibiscus Rosa -Sinensis. Shoe- 
black Tree. 
„ liliiflorus. Lily- 
flowered ditto. 



^Hibiscus esculentus. Ochra. 
„ elatus. Mahoe. 
„ latif alius. Broad- 
leaved ditto. 
* „ tilaceus. Sea-side do. 
Lagetta lintearia. Lace Bark. 
Daphne tinifolia. Burn-nose 
Bark. 

° Cocosnucifera. Cocoa Nut. 
&Artocarpus incisa. Bread 
Fruit. 

Pterocarpus santalinus. Ptero- 
carpus. 

Crotalaria juncea. Battlewort. 



"The above list will be found to comprise fibre of such 
quality and colour, from the cocoa-nut coir to filaments 
resembling fine silk in strength and lustre of appearance, 
as cannot be surpassed. I might have extended the list to 
greater length, but I believe the enumeration will convince 
the most sceptical, that this island abounds with a highly 
valuable description of textile plants, some of which are 
considered troublesome weeds. Those of a ligeneous nature 
will annually produce two crops of shoots, from which good 
fibre may be obtained, requiring no machinery whatever in 
preparing it for market. The method I have pursued, as 
being the most easy and simple, is this : — Macerate the shoots 
until the cuticle or outer bark separates freely from the true 
bark: the latter will then be removed readily from the 
ligeneous part, and requires but little labour or knowledge to 
wash, dry, and pack the fibre for market : this would furnish, 
healthy employment for children, the aged and infirm, and 
would not diminish the amouut of labour on plantations. 

"For the plantain, finguin, and all similar herbaceous 
plants, machinery is absolutely necessary to separate and 
clean the fibre advantageously; when the desideratum is 



* The species of cactus called silk grass in Guinea, does net exceed^ 12 or 16 
inches in length. 



342 



DICKSON ON MR. N. WILSON'S REPORT 



accomplished, and with one or two years' practice, there is 
nothing to prevent Jamaica competing with any part of the 
world of ten times the same extent. The inducement to do 
so cannot be much greater than it is at present. I find, by 
a statistical account, that the imports of flax into the United 
Kingdom during 1853 amounted to 94,163 tons 14 cwt., and, 
at the exorbitant price of £110 per ton to which the average 
price of foreign flax has already risen, shows a sum of 
£10,358,007, which has been paid in cash for foreign flax fibre 
last year ; and since the prohibition of Russian hemp into 
European markets, prices and demand are increasing daily. 

"My motive for laying before you my views on this 
subject, and preparing the samples of fibre for your inspection 
is, that I am anxious to submit to you, and through you 
to the agriculturists and people in general of this island, the 
desirability and advantages in an individual and nationaj. 
point of view to be derived from /the adoption and extensive 
cultivation of fibrouY plants. As I have already mentioned 
the great scarcity, exorbitant price, and widely-spreading 
demand for fibre throughout the world, render the materials 
of which it is manufactured of much importance, particularly 
in this country, where labour is scarce and dear, and 
agriculture at its lowest ebb. Many of these fibres will be 
found of superior quality, and produced in greater abundance 
than any grown in temperate regions. 

" I have made a very moderate calculation of the produce 
of an established field with plantains, which I find as 
follows : — 

An acre planted with suckers, at 10 feet apart, £ s. d. 
will contain 435 plants, and the first year will 
produce as many bunches of fruit, worth 6d. 10 17 6 

Each stem will yield 1 lb. of finely-dressed 

fibre, worth 6d. 10 17 6 



Amoimting, in all, to . £21 15 



OF THE VEGETABLE FIBRES OF JAMAICA. 



343 



"There can also be raised on the same land, along with the 
plantains during the first year, a crop of yams, corn, kidney- 
beans, and sweet potatoes, worth at least £20, thus realizing 
the first year £41 15s. The second year each plantain- 
stool will throw up three or more suckers, the quantity of 
fibre will thereby be tripled, and succeeding years would add 
to the produce ; and if the plantain is cut before the fruit is 
formed, the quantity of fibre will be fully one-third more, of 
a far superior quality. I may here remark, that the banana 
is a much hardier plant than the plantain ; it will live and 
thrive at an elevation where the lattei would not exist. In 
selecting any particular variety of the musa for cultivation, 
great care ought to be observed, as on this point much of the 
success depends. 

(i In connection with this branch of industry, other plants, 
although of less importance, ought not to be lost sight of, 
being available in meeting a great deficiency, as materials for 
the manufacture of paper, such as many of our very soft and 
spongy woods, which cannot be classed among timbers ; the 
various and inexhaustible supply of tough withes, reeds, 
grasses; and, perhaps superior to all, the refuse of arrow- 
root, as it comes from the mill, divested of its starch ; many 
tons of this are annually wasted, being thrown on the 
dunghill. The above-mentioned materials are far more likely 
to answer the purpose than the bamboo, so much used in 
China for making paper. 

' ' I shall conclude by briefly describing another plant (the 
pathos violacea), admirably adapted for all descriptions of 
fine straw-plats, particularly where strength and richness of 
appearance are desired ; its plat will be found superior to the 
best Leghorn plat. This plant although an epiphyte, and 
growing plentifully at the roots and on the tops of the 
highest trees, at an elevation on the mountains not under 
1,000 feet, may readily be cultivated in woodlands and moist 



344 



DICKSON ON HIS PATENTS 



places. The part made use of is, the petiole or footstalk 
of the leaf, which grows from eighteen inches to two feet long, 
and readily divides into strips of any dimensions, and contains 
a strong firbe, while the common plat made from the fan- 
palms does not, and seldom retains colour long. These 
advantages may tend to bring the plant into notice, after a 
while; and if, through my humble endeavours, any of the 
undeveloped resources of the country are brought into notice, 
a happy result will be effected." 

The patentee having discovered that parties were infringing 
his patents, had the following advertisement inserted, weekly, 
for twelve months, in Yorkshire newspapers : — 

NOTICE TO SPINNERS AND MANUFACTURERS. 

Vegetable fibre, resembling silk, prepared from East and 
West India fibres by J. Hill Dickson's patents. Mr. Dickson 
begs leave to inform the Norwich, Nottingham, Leicester, 
Lancashire, Yorkshire, Scottish, and Irish spinners and 
manufacturers of wool, alpaca, mohair, silk, shoddy, and Flax, 
that he has secured a fifth patent for softening, bleaching, and 
combing the East and West India fibres, and for mixing; and 
drawing them in the same sliver with wool, alpaca, mohair, 
silk, shoddy, and Flax, so as to be spun in one thread on silk, 
woollen, worsted, or Flax machinery. 

He is prepared to supply machinery, grant licences, and 
send competent instructors to work the patents to any firm 
desirous to avail themselves of a supply of the raw material, 
out of which forty varieties of lustre goods have been made, 
consisting of velvets, plush, moreens, Orleans, damasks, and 
other fancy figured, and plain goods — the greater portion of 
which has been made near Bradford during the last four 
months, and also at Amiens and Lyons. The patentee's price 
for the material has been 2s. per lb., or £224 per ton. 



TO PREVENT PIRACY AND FRAUD. 345 

There are no other patents yet in existence but those of the 
patentee, J. H. Dickson, for preparing vegetable fibres so 
that they will mix, spin, and dye with animal fibre, and as he 
has already discovered a party in London who has been 
preparing India fibre by the use of one of his old patents, and 
sending it to Leeds, Halifax, Sowerby Bridge, and Bradford, 
THIS IS TO GIVE NOTICE to spinners and manufacturers, that if 
they purchase and mix these India fibres in a sliver or thread, 
with animal fi bre, they are liable to an action for infringing 
the rights of the patentee. 

Proceedings have been taken by Dickson's solicitor, Mr. 
,A. C. Hope, against the party in London (E. Blake),* who 
has been preparing India fibre by Dickson's patent process, 
and he has been in consequence in prison and through the 
Insolvent Court. 

A third person named Gardner started machinery in Ber- 
mondsey Street, London, to use J. Hill Dickson's patents, but 
at the patentee's instance, Gardner was sold up in September, 
1860, and the patentee, Dickson, bought up machines, vats, 
and shaftings, a great bargain, and those machines were 
worked at Tooting, preparing material herein described ; the 
patentee got fourteen tons of machinery and vats for £70, 
not the price of old iron. Few would bid at the sale, when 
they found all were made from my patterns. 

A fourth and a more audacious (because unexpected and 
not thought possible) attempt at fraud, on the part of what 



* This man Blake was living by infringing my patent for three years, and 
another foreigner named Dahman erected vats and machinery at Nye's Wharf, 
Old Kent Road, to follow Blake's example, having been a partner of Blake. 
Dahman got hold of three cotton-spinning firms in Lancashire by, what he told 
them, was a secret process, to work which they agreed to advance some £1,200 
or £2,000, and, after considerable outlay in the erection, the Manchester 
gentlemen dropped in for a dead loss, all knowledge of the " grand secret" being 
denied them. 



346 



DICKSON ON HIS PATENTS TO 



may be fairly called a ei bubble company," was worked 
forward and all but successfully carried out, with unparalleled 
injustice and intended ruin towards the patentee. A number 
of cunning and crafty speculators, consisting of colonels, 
captains, and agents, joined to purchase the exclusive right 
to Dickson's patents for India for £2,000 in cash, and £8,000 
in paid-up shares, in June 1859. He (Dickson) agreed to 
find them prepared fibres, to be spun on silk and worsted 
machinery, and the matter being fully understood, a company 
was formed, with a silk merchant or agent as managing 
director, styled the ei East India Fibre and Oil Company, 
East India Chambers, Leadenhall Street." Seven directors 
registered their company as it appeared in the Gazette, as 
the " exclusive proprietors of Dickson's patents for India," 
and issued prospectuses which stated the terms; the first 
instalment of £500 was to be paid on the 29th December, 
1859, and the next £1,500 on the 29th of January, 1860, 
but a week before the first £500 became due ; the company 
of agents, colonels, and captains, thought proper to inform the 
patentee, they would go on and do without his patents 
altogether, and they issued new prospectuses, in which 
neither his name or patents appeared, and tried to establish 
a company with his prepared and spun rheea fibre for which 
he never received one farthing. They had managed to get 
solicitors to their aid, one of whom was the son of one of the 
most wealthy and extensive partners in a firm in Alderman- 
bury, City, and also managed to get his father on the 
direction, but as the patentee felt the injustice nothing short 
of a swindle, he called on the firms, and having explained 
the facts to the senior partners in the firm, they at once 
desired their names to be struck out of the prospectuses, and 
the patentee having succeeded there, had another great house 
or firm in Fore Street also informed of the intended fraud, 
and thus put an end to the labours of the company, and their 
" exclusive right to Dickson's patents for India." 



PREVENT PIRACY AND PRAUD. 



347 



The prospectuses of their company having been sent to 
several editors of newspapers, the following appeared on the 
subject : — 

NEW COMPANY POR THE SUPPLY OF EAST AND WEST 
INDIAN FIBRES, FOR OUR HOME MANUFACTURERS. 

"It is gratifying to observe, from last night's Gazette, that 
a company of highly influential gentlemen and merchants, 
now or lately connected with our East Indian possessions, 
have formed themselves into a company, and have given 
notice of their intention to apply for a special Act of Parlia- 
ment to enable them to hold lands and secure especial trading 
privileges in India, for the purpose of growing certain fibres, 
and preparing them for manufacturing purposes by patented 
processes, the right to which the company have secured by 
purchase of the inventor, Mr. J. H. Dickson, so long and 
favourably known to all Flax-growers and linen factors. Mr. 
Dickson's patented machines, and chemical processes for ren- 
dering these fibres available, are amongst the wonderful 
discoveries of the age, when viewed as the results of the 
experimental research of a scientific mind directed to achieve 
a special practical benefit of a highly important nature. The 
importance of a very large and speedy increase of the raw 
material for our staple manufactures in wool, silk, cotton, 
Flax, and hemp, is universally admitted, the supply having 
now for years past fallen short of our manufacturing needs. 
That India has the means of supplying these growing 
demands of our manufacturers has been repeatedly de- 
monstrated in these columns, the only thing wanting being 
the necessary capital, directed by a practical knowledge of 
commerce, united with a proper scientific appreciation of the 
qualities of our Indian plants, and the proper mode of pre- 
paring them ready for manufacturing purposes. The beau- 
tiful fibres which have been produced from the various 



348 DICKSON ON COLONEL ABBOTT'S REPORT 



varieties of Flax, rheea, or Assam grass, the Neilgherry nettle, 
the jute, the plantain, the aloe, the Pine-apple, and many- 
others of high value, growing in all parts of India, by the 
patented processes of Mr. J. Hill Dickson, have been from 
time to time exhibited at our scientific societies, and have 
been thoroughly tested by our most experienced manufac- 
turers. The results of these experiments would justify the 
formation of an association with an adequate capital for 
supplying the wants of our trade, and we expect shortly to 
be able to announce the organization of a company to supply 
our manufacturers with a substitute for their ordinary silk, wool, 
Flax, and cotton materials ; and everybody will watch wdth 
much interest the progress of any such undertaking," — 
Builder. 

The fact of a sale being made to the "East India Fibre 
Company," became known in Bradford by my sending to Mr. 
Jowit, one of the proprietors, and he noticed it as under in his 
journal 

" We (Bradford Advertiser) have been informed that Mr. 
Dickson's terms with the East India Fibre Company, in 
London, for the exclusive right to work his Indian patents, 
are £10,000, and 10s. per ton royalty on all the fibre the 
company prepares for market, and we are also informed that 
Mr. Dickson has secured additional patents for softening, 
bleaching, and finishing, by liquid and combing machines, 
and mixing the vegetable fibres of the East and West Indies 
and China, with animal fibres, in combing and drawing in 
the sliver so as to be spun into one thread, on silk or worsted 
wool -spinning machinery. Samples of yarn, half silk, half 
rheea ; half wool, half rheea ; half shoddy, half rheea ; half 
alpaca, half rheea ; and all rheea, are to be seen at the offices, 
60, Cornhill, London. 

" This fifth and new patent will prevent any company or 
person from mixing East or West India or China vegetable 



ON THE CULTIVATION OE KHEEA. 



349 



fibres, with wool, silk, alpaca, or shoddy, unless the patentee 
grant a license." 

Having explained the nature of my inventions and discoveries 
to soften and prepare the fibres of India to Colonel Abbott, 
whose knowledge of such production arose from twenty-six 
years' residence in that great empire, I was favoured by my 
friend with the following written document for publication. 
COLONEL ABBOTT'S REPORT. 

" The remarkable preparation of the rheea fibre by Mr. 
J. Hill Dickson's process of patent machines and liquid ; the 
proof of its adaptability to various textile fabrics by experi- 
ments, both when used alone, or mixed with silk, alpaca, or 
wool, receiving the dye in the most perfect manner ; and the 
fact that the statements made by the late Dr. J. Forbes Royle 
(formerly superintendent of the Hon. East India Company's 
Botanic Garden at Saharumpore), as to the strength, fineness, 
and value of the fibrous plants of India, have been proved in 
Bradford, by Mr. Dickson's skill in preparing rheea and other 
fibres for the trade of Yorkshire; these, and the following 
practical results, are reasons why the cultivation and collection 
of rheea, and similar wild plants, should be immediately 
proceeded with. 

"At a discussion that took place in the rooms of the 
Society of Arts, on the 9th of May, 1860, on Indian fibres, 
Thomas Bazley, Esq., M.P., in the chair, — present, Colonel 
Sykes, M.P., Mr. Hadfield, M.P., and a large and influential 
audience, — The tables were covered with Mr. Dickson's raw 
material, prepared fine as silk, and combed on silk machinery 
and yarns spun from it from 70's to 180's, and forty varieties 
of cloth* made from like yarns were exhibited, similar in 

* This cloth was made from rheea fibre, prepared by Dickson's patents and 
supplied by him to Mr. William. Whittaker, then of the firm of Messrs. 
Milligan, Forbes and Co., Bradford, who had previously agreed to give the 
patentee, Dickson, £10,000 for his English patents as soon as he got his 
experiments in manufacturing the fibre into cloth fully carried^ out, and 
Dickson had the right to work his machines in a factory at Waterfall House, 
Lower Tooting, but not to dispose of any of the fibres in England. 



350 



DICKSON ON COLONEL ABBOTT'S REPORT 



appearance to alpaca, at half the price. They came up in the 
finish with a gloss and lustre, more like silk and wool mixed 
than anything else 

" There is no doubt that rheea grows best in the moist 
lands of the tropics ; and there it becomes one of the most 
easy, the must prolific, and the cheapest crop to which the 
land can be applied. 

' ' Lower Bengal is the position which is best adapted for 
its propagation by European cultivation, because the land is 
there exactly suited for it, and it is nearest to European set- 
tlements, and the best port of shipment. 

"It is for this reason, that it is considered that the 
Sunderbund Lands below Calcutta would be the best locality 
to resort to. 

" There are large tracts of land there which belong to 
European grantees or Zemindars admirably suited to it. 
There are also quantities of ungranted and uncleared land, 
which might be had in any quantities if desired. The land 
selected should be at an elevation above inundation, or suffi- 
ciently drained or bunded to keep out all rise of river or sea 
water; subject to that, any very considerable amount of 
moisture would be rather favourable than otherwise to its 
growth. 

" Looking to the circumstance that the introduction of a 
new article of cultivation would be taken up with hesitation, 
or very slowly, by cultivators, either European or native, and 
that they would at any rate require a large price and certain 
contracts to cover what they would regard as a risk, it is 
clearly desirable that parties here wanting this fibre should 
without delay proceed to cultivate it on their own account, to 
a certain extent, because it would ensure the speediest 
returns ; it v ould act as an incentive to neighbouring land- 
owners, and afford a proof of the price at which it ought to 
be grown by others. 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF BHEEA. 



351 



" As soon as the first year's crop has been obtained, there 
would be the proof to exhibit to a hundred Zemindars, native 
and European, and Indian Ryots, of what could be done, and 
other arrangements could be made with them to the extent 
desirable, to enter upon its cultivation on the most favourable 
terms ; while it would be seen if it was preferable or not to 
extend its cultivation on. one's own farms, 

' ' The views of experienced persons as regards the most 
certain supply of rheea fibre, are, to commence at once the 
systematic cultivation of it in the 1 Sunderbunds,' — the flat 
alluvial lands forming the Delta of the mouths of the Ganges, 
and extending from Calcutta to the sea. 

" These lands are particularly rich, a perfectly virgin soil, 
requiring little irrigation, and in ail respects well suited for 
high cultivation of all kinds. 

"There are millions of acres of it; considerable parts 
having been granted out to native and English Zemindars, 
who are gradually clearing the primseval forest, and then let 
it out for cultivation to natives. There are still, however, 
hundreds of thousands of acres belonging to the government, 
ready, to be granted for a long term to any parties applying 
for it at a nominal rent for the first few years, and afterwards 
at a rent of a few shillings an acre. 

' ' Mr. Morrell is one of the English Zemindars who, with 
his brothers, have been in the district for nine years, and have 
upwards of 100,000 acres, of which nearly 30,000 are cleared 
and cultivated. His experience of these lands is considerable, 
and quite to the purpose. 

"Lieutenant-Colonel Abbott* has been in Burmah and 
many other parts of India, for twenty-six years, and is 
acquainted with several of the native languages and the 

* Colonel Abbott left last month, August, 1863, for India, with a view to 
select rheea fibre, as well as to have it cultivated on (his friend, Mr Worrell's) 
Estate in India, through which a railway is laid to Calcutta. 



352 



DICKSON ON COLONEL ABBOTT'S REPORT 



native habits. Both of these gentlemen have, during the last 
few months, been considering the subject of the planting of 
rheea. They considered that, to get a considerable supply at 
an early period, it is indispensably necessary that the energy 
of Europeans should be directed to its planting and prepara- 
tion, and that, with due activity, the desired results may easily 
be obtained, in the second year of the operations in whatever 
quantities it may (within reason) be wanted. 

' ' The natives are so unacquainted with this plant as an 
article of culture, or of any large or new use to be made of it, 
that it would be almost a work of years to persuade them by 
slow degrees to take it up of themselves ; while if they saw the 
work done under European direction, they would soon be 
induced to imitate it, if it was found profitable to continue its 
culture. 

<c The rheea already grows wild in all parts of the Sunder- 
bunds, though not in large quantities ; it is on the property of 
the Messrs. Morrell, who some years since tried the experiment 
of collecting and preparing it for sale. 

" They soon, however, abandoned it, because they had no 
machinery of any kind suited to prepare it; and had to resort 
to the services of all the old women in the district, who 
did the best they could to peel off the bark with old knives, 
and this rude process was found in the result to be 
expensive and unproductive of good results; but as Mr. J. 
Hill Dickson, the first inventor of machinery to prepare 
rheea for spinning purposes, has also discovered a liquid 
process by which the rheea can be made as fine as silk, for 
which he has obtained patents for India, the Continent, 
Great Britain and Ireland, and forty varieties of goods have 
been made from it in Bradford, equal to alpaca cloth, there is 
every certainty of the rheea fibre becoming, like the jute, an 
article of most extensive importation. Mr. Dickson has been 
equally successful by his patented inventions in preparing the 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF EHEEA. 



353 



plantain for spinning purposes ; making it soft and fine as 
Flax at £80 to £90 per ton. 

"The Messrs. Morrell, and Col. Abbott, are, however, 
familiar with the rheea fibre in all its details, and know 
exactly how it is to be grown and treated. 

"The familiar example of it here is the 'withy-bed' for 
basket work ; the similarity of the two plants is very great, 
and the mode of culture. The crop of the rheea, like that of 
the withy, consists of the young straight shoots which grow 
up after the rains. 

" These grow in India about six to eight feet high, and 
then, unlike the withy, throw out lateral shoots, and so on in 
succession. 

' ' Of course, in collecting the wild rheea, the natives get 
hold of what they can, and do not discriminate between old 
and young shoots. The old shoots are inferior in every way. 
The bark is tougher and coarser, and the lateral shoots 
springing out of the knots, interfere with getting a straight 
long peel of the bark from one end to the other. The proper 
cultivation consists of watching the growth of the young 
shoots, and cutting them just as they have reached a certain 
height, and before the root has expended all its force. By 
this means the fibre obtained will be found peculiar delicate 
and fine, more so, probably than has ever been yet introduced 
to this country, and a double growth is encouraged. 

u Indeed, if it should be found that the shoots of, say five 
feet long, produce a fibre long enough, when cleaned, etc., 
for the manufacturer, and if the shoots are cut at that time 
about a foot from the root, there will be a treble crop of young 
shoots immediately springing up from the first stem, and three 
times the quantity of young shoots will be thus obtained. 

'"- The mode of introducing the cultivation would be by 

collecting seeds, shoots, and roots ; the plants can be raised 

each way, and the growth is very rapid, 
z 



354 



DICKSON ON COLONEL ABBOTT'S REPORT 



"The plants should be placed at about three feet apart, or 
a little more to allow the spreading ; and. after the growing 
season, the whole of the superfluous shoots should be cut down 
to the root, so as to ensure the full strength of the roots 
running to young shoots the next growing time. 

" This, in fact, is all the cultivation and labour the plants 
require ; they are so hardy that neither hot nor cold, wet nor 
dry, much affects them ; and no such culture and care as are 
necessarily bestowed upon sugar, rice, indigo, or other crops, 
need be applied to the rheea. It would be the easiest, 
cheapest, and least laborious crop in all India, and the 
natives would, perhaps, for these most enticing reasons, 
sooner appreciate the value of this plant tnan might be 
anticipated. 

"It is clear they would give it a preference when once 
known, and the competition thus occasioned would gradually 
cheapen the production. 

iC One of the elements of estimating the cost of production 
has been derived from Mr. Morrell's knowledge of the actual 
expense of the cultivation by native labour of an acre of land 
laid down to other crops. Sugar is by far the most expensive, 
for it requires fresh ploughing every year, fresh planting, 
cleaning, etc. ; yet the total cost per acre is only £6. 

"The cost of the rheea would not much, if at all, exceed 
half of this for native labour. 

tl The estimate of production made by these gentlemen is a 
good ton per acre per annum. Dr. Watson thought two 
tons could be obtained. After all, it is only an estimate thus 
got at. 

et They examined the rheea plants growing in the open air 
in the Botanical Gardens, Regent's Park, and found there 
were about twenty-seven young shoots on it of one growth. 
They cut some, peeled them, and weighed the skins thus 
obtained, and the calculation made from it was as follows : — 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF RHEEA. 



355 



| of an oz* avoirdupois to each stalk. 
25 stalks to each plant. 
4840 plants to each acre produces 1 ton 2 cwt. 25 lbs. in 2 

cuttings, of 1 foot 3 inches long each. 
Calculated from what was taken from the Botanical Gardens, 

" There are, however, many reasons which would lead one to 
suppose that in India the quantity would be much greater, as 
the plant would be more luxuriant. 

"The calculations made by the experienced persons referred 
to, after much consideration, result as follows : — 

To produce 1,000 tons the first year. 



Clearing 6,000 Cheegahs, or 2,000 


£ 


s. 


d. 




1,800 








Planting 2,000 acres 


1,800 








Cutting and carrying 1,000 tons. . . 


1,800 








Crushing with machinery .... 


200 










500 








Carriage to Calcutta, and various 








incidentals to shipment .... 


4,000 









£10,100 
Cost of production } £lQ ^ ^ of ^ £ 
the first year ) 
To produce 2,000 tons the second 
year, clearing and planting done. 

Cutting and carrying 2,000 tons . 3,600 

Crushing with machinery, packing, etc. 1 , 000 

Carriage to Calcutta, etc 8,000 

£13,000 

Add rent of 2,000 acres, at 9s. . . 900 



£13,900 

Cost of production) 

. >Or £7 per ton, or lad. per lb, 
the second year. ) A 



356 



DICKSON ON COLONEL ABBOTT'S REPORT 



" Mr. Morreli, who is here for a year or two, would be very 
well contented to engage at once to supply rheea on a five 
years' contract (and would leave for India next mail), at £25 
per ton, or 2§d. per lb., delivered in London or Liverpool, 
engaging for the first year 2,000 tons, and afterwards any 
indefinite quantity. 

"It is, however, candidly admitted, that for a run of five 
years, purchasers could grow it for much less by taking up a 
grant, or hiring cleared lands (and Messrs. Morreli and others 
are quite prepared to let it), and themselves form an establish- 
ment for planting and growing it as described. 

" There seems much reason for thinking this the fact, and 
the more so, if there was necessity for raising a very large 
quantity; because one management, extending over the 
whole, would every year find out more and more how to 
economise and improve the production, reduce general charges, 
and ensure uniformity of quality and regularity of quantity. 

" Mr. Morreli says, that the Sunderbund Lands are 
admirably adapted for the growth of it. If so, that position 
presents the advantage of being within a few hours' distance 
from Calcutta by the railway being now constructed through 
that district; and carriage to the port w T ould be trifling, and 
supervision of the establishment much facilitated, by having 
Calcutta people at hand for the purpose. 

" Whatever estimate may be formed of the quantity likely 
to be consumed in this country, there is little doubt that a 
similar amount would be required for continental countries; 
and thus it might approximately be arrived at, what the 
extent of the establishment should be, and what fche capital 
and mode of supervision necessary. 

" There seems reason to think that it should be a separate 
association, entirely devoted to this object; and there is quite 
enough for the directors of such a company to attend to. 
' ' It does not seem probable that any more exact informa- 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF EHEEA. 



357 



tion than this can be obtained, and there is nothing to lead 
one to suppose that any more practical means can be adopted 
to command a regular supply. 

"Mr. A. C. Brice (St. Mary Axe), who has been up the 
country in India for many years' cotton growing, says that he 
believes he could, with great exertion, scrape together 1,000 
tons the first year, * and 5,000 tons the second year : but he 
has not stated the sources. 

" It is certainly the fact, that nearly all the productions of 
India are obtained at present by encouraging the native Ryots 
to devote their attention to it, and making them advances. 
When this can be done, it is a good system, and the produc- 
tions are obtained very cheaply. This plan might be usefully 
resorted to, even directly, but when regard is had to the 
natural slowness of the natives, there is reason to fear it 
would be a few years before a large quantity should be safely 
relied upon. 

"An example set by very energetic work at first, would tell 
m an extraordinary way upon the natives, and the process 
employed would the sooner be imitated by them. A model 
plantation or farm would also present the advantage of 
affording an opportunity of using portions of the land for the 
growth of plantain, aloe, pine-apple, Neilgherry nettle, agave, 
and other plants giving useful fibres ; and the natives will 
be found shrewd enough to come from a great distance, 

* Mr. Brice has given a letter to the patentee, contracting to supply 700 tons 
within twelve months', at £25 per ton, delivered in London or Liverpool. If 
the sagacious Emperor of the Erench could be told that there was any part of 
the Erench possessions capable of sending such material to France, at such a 
low figure as 2^d. per lb., would he not at once see, that France would be the 
first place to benefit P However, he shall know (by my sending a copy of this 
work), that His Majesty's possessions in Africa can produce the rheea plant as 
well as India, as our government tells the operatives of Lancashire, " You may 
starve on, until private enterprise comes forward to obtain material in place of 
cotton." 



358 



DICKSON ON COLONEL ABBOTT'S EEPORT 



to see what could be grown so cheaply, so easily, and so 
profitably. 

' ' The rheea fibre is well known to exist in large quantities 
in all parts of the East — Assam, Singapore, Ceylon,* Java, 
and China ; but not being now a recognised article of export, 
it would be necessary to go through the very slow process of 
teaching the natives, step by step, that it is worth their while 
to cultivate it. The character of the natives there (except 
Chinese) is such that it would be a work of long time to get 
them to occupy the little time they do give to labour at all, 
to a new employment, to which they are not much accus- 
tomed, and the profit of which they would be slow to 
discover. 

"No good opportunity has [yet occurred for ascertaining 
the condition of China for exporting the China grass. This 
will be ascertained as soon as possible. However, Mr. 
Dickson, who has worked it largely, says it is not equal in 
quality (as to fineness) to the rheea of India. 

" Inquiries are in course of being made as to supply from 
Java, and the result willjbe communicated in a few months. 
Mr. D. has prepared the Java rheea, and found it excellent in 
quality. 

" Numerous Flax failures have arisen from the great defi- 
ciency in supply of that material ; and Leeds, that could, in 
the year 1836, boast of having thirty-nine Flax-spinning 

* Observing that a second company has been brought out for the purpose of 
growing in Ceylon an additional supply of coffee for the English market, and 
that their estates are not more than half occupied in growing coffee, and 10 per 
cent, is the largest inducement they can hold out to influence the capitalists in 
this country to take shares, surely, as these estates can produce an article that 
will meet with as ready a market as coffee in Lancashire, material, second onlv 
to silk, and gives a profit of 30 per cent, at least, they will not so far forget or 
overlook their own interest as to neglect, or refuse in aiding in the formation 
of a company to grow the rheea fibre, so ably described by Colonel Abbott, 
from a thorough knowledge of its value and mode of cultivation. 



ON RHEEA BY HIS PATENT PROCESS. 



359 



factories fully employed, has only now, in the year I860, 
because of the high price of Flax, nine Flax factories at work. 
This fact was declared by Mr. Richardson, M.B. for Lisburn, 
as chairman at a meeting of the India Flax Company in 
Belfast, last month. 

' ' The high price of Flax, silk, and wool, contrasted with 
that of Indian fibres, would lead to the belief that every class 
of spinners should feel interested in introducing these, as an 
additional material for our manufacturers. 

"Mr. Dickson has been the first to discover that these 
vegetable fibres can be mixed in a sliver with animal fibres 
and spun and dyed equally, as if all sheep's wool or silk goods, 
and for this discovery he has the exclusive patent right for 
Great Britain and Ireland, the Continent, India, and America. 

" Dr. Forbes Royle filled, to his lamented death, the office 
now held by Dr. Watson in the East India House ; and, 
in many parts of his valuable works on Indian products, bears 
impartial testimony to the important bearings of Mr. Dickson's 
discovery, in his successful mode of treating these fibres 
and adapting them to the wants of our manufacturers. 

" The following letters prove Dr. Royle's opinion of Mr. 
Dickson's patent method of preparing Indian fibres, and the 
wild rheea in particular. The extensive firm of Messrs 
Marshall and Co., flax-spinners, Leeds, informed Dr. Royle. 
by letter, which appears in his book of Indian fibres, that the 
rheea he sent them was only worth £-18 per ton, and only fit 
for making ropes. Mr. Dickson has made it as fine as silk, 
and sold it at £224 per ton, in Bradford, Yorkshire, in 1860, 
to Mr. W. Whit taker (late partner in the extensive firm 
of Messrs. Milligan, Forbes, and Co.), who made the forty 
varieties of cloth from it that were exhibited at the Society of 
Arts in May, 1860, and entered into a contract to give 
£10,000 for the English patent, and paid on account £850 
to Mr. Dickson." 



360 



DICKSON ON COLONEL ABBOTT'S KEPOBT 



Mr. Whittaker from an unfortunate accident, (a broken leg), 
got embarrassed and his private affairs got into the bankruptcy 
court ; if such misfortune had not reached him, I am quite 
convinced he would have fulfilled his promise of purchase, 
and have worked my patents with success, as he spared no 
expense in proving their value ; he forfeited by his bankruptcy 
all interest and right of purchase of my patents. 

As the delay in having my inventions, (so likely, if worked, to 
be of great benefit) remaining idle, has caused many to question 
the cause, I beg to here add a statement of facts that I hope will 
serve to convince those who may feel interested, of the real cause. 

When Mr. Whittaker suspended payment in 1861, offers 
were made me by several firms in Bradford, to take his place 
as purchasers of my patents, and such was from six of the 
most extensive spinning and manufacturing firms in the town, 
who all got of my prepared rheea fibre and had it spun and 
woven into the yarn and cloth now in my pattern books. The 
price, £10,000, was never objected to, but the uncertainty 
of a supply, India being at such a distance, and then con- 
sidered the only place from which rheea fibre could be had, 
such was the great obstacle and objection which nothing 
could remove but the establishment of a joint stock company 
in India, or an arrangement with first class firms in Calcutta, 
Madras, Kurrachee, and Bombay, who would guarantee the 
first and most important part, the growth and supply from 
that great empire. Such has been a complete stopper on the 
disposal and working of my patented inventions until now, 
when I expect that with such facts and figures I must obtain 
the aid of British merchants. Since then I have referred back 
to letters I was favoured with, from Sir W. Hooker, of the 
Royal Gardens, Kew, to whom I am deeply indebted, as 
through his kind attention ' I have been furnished with 
evidence beyond all doubt in the writings of Mr. Nathanel 
Wilson, on the vegetable production, especially the fibres of 



ON RHEEA BY HIS PATENT PROCESS. 



361 



Jamaica, and as that Island abounds with rheea and similar 
fibre plants, and as the distance is comparatively short 
to that of India, my hopes of a supply through merchants 
connected with and interested in the trade of that country, are 
likely to be now realised. Then I have discovered that 
Algiers is second to none for fibre plants, and the strength 
of those I have experimented upon are of such a superior 
nature, that once their value be made known and brought 
properly before his Majesty the Emperor of the French, the 
resources of that country will not remain undeveloped, and 
rheea, no doubt, is to be had in that region. We have also 
New Zealand, with a climate for everything that India or 
Europe can produce, and I have been able to cottonize the 
Flax (Phormium Tenax) of that country. 

And last, though not least, we have Ceylon, only a four 
months' journey from home, and merchants trading to that 
country who have the power and inclination to enter into engage- 
ments as to a supply of rheea and such fibres as the soil of that 
rich productive island can be made to produce for our wants in 
Lancashire. 

" 'East India House, 28th February, 1854. 
" 'Sir, — Mr. Sangster and I propose coming down to see 
your mill one of these days. I will give you intimation of 
our intended visit. I have no doubt that the present aspect of 
affairs will make merchants pay more attention to India fibres, 
of which there is great abundance ; orders have gone out for 
several of them. 

" 'Yours obediently, 

" ' J. F. KOYLE. 

" 'Mr. J. Hill Dickson, 

" ' Proprietor, Flax Mills, Deptford.' 

li ' Sir,— I did not reply to your note, as I concluded that 
you would let me know when your mill is ready for inspection. 
I am anxious to see some Flax separated from the plant by 



362 DICKSON ON THE STRENGTH AND SPINNING 



your process. I should like also to bring a piece of the India 
plant which yields such strong fibre. I have a plant growing 
and could cut off one stalk, if that would be of any use. I 
am going to publish a pamphlet giving an account of the 
Indian fibres. I should like to say something about your 
process. 

" 6 Yours obediently, 

" < J. F. ROYLE. 

" 'Mr. J. Hill Dickson, 

" 6 Proprietor, Flax Works, Grove Street, Deptford.' 

" 'East India House, Dec. 7th, 1854. 
" 1 Dr. Royle presents his compliments to Mr. Dickson, and 
regrets that he has been unable to visit his works, and would 
like to know if any coming day would suit for his coming 
down. 

" c As Dr. R. is just going to publish his work on fibres, he 
has an opportunity of mentioning' it, and if, in his work, Mr. 
Dickson will give him a short description of it, Dr. R. would 
insert it. There is, of course, a description published among 
the patents, but Dr. R. would only notice the general prin- 
ciples, if Mr. D. had no objection. 

" 'Advantage of J. Hill Dickson's inventions in preparing 
East India hemp and Flax, Italian hemp and New Zealand 
Flax, as substitutes for Irish, English, and Foreign Flax. 

* ' 6 The extensive firm of Messrs. Hives and Atkinson .sent 
the following note to Mr. Dickson, in reply to an inquiry 
respecting the useful qualities of Indian Flax yarn, the fibre 
of which had been prepared with his valuable patent liquid : — 

" 1 Bank Mill, Leeds, Oct. 4th, 1858. 
"'Mr. Dickson, Sir, — We think the hank of Indian 
Flax yarn is in as good a state for weaving as if it were boiled. 
We have no machinery suitable for the silk, and think you 
would be more likely to obtain what you want of a silk- 



QUALITIES OF RHEEA AND NEW ZEALAND FLAX. 363 



spinner, like Messrs. Holdforth. We shall be glad to see 
your samples of fibres at £15, £18, £35, and £49 per ton, 
and will spin it for you, if our machinery be suitable. 

' £ ' Yours obediently, 

" 6 HIVES & ATKINSON.' " 



"The following letter from Messrs. Benyon and Co., of 
Leeds, will testify as to the strength of the rheea : — 

"< Leeds, July 5th, 1858. 
" 'Dear Sir, — I have your letter of to-day, and in reply 
beg to inform you that I have got the stuff, the Indian rheea 
fibre, spun for you, which I now send. It was so strong,* it 
could not do well on such frames as ours. 

" 'I am, Dear Sir, yours truly, 
" 'For Benyon and Co., 

«<W. COULTON. 

" ' Mr. J. Hill Dickson.' 

" 6 Leeds, Sept. 27th, 1860. 
" c Sir, — We have examined the samples of prepared fibre 
you have shown us this day, and are of opinion that the best 
and finest of them are well suited to the trade, provided on 
trial they are found to stand the necessary process of spinning 
as well as Flax prepared in the usual method.f 

* 1 We also think that if this should be found to be the case, 
the price of from £60 to £70 per ton, in the dressed state 
and ready for use, is not above the market value. 

6C i We are, sir, yours, etc., 

"< BENYON AND CO. 

"'Mr. J. H. Dickson.'" 

*What a fault compared with the rotten jute of India. 

f The material approved of by Messrs. Benyon and Co., at £60 or £70 
per ton, was New Zealand Flax and Italian hemp, pFepared by Dickson's 
patents* 



364 



DICKSON ON 



The patentee having been so successful in his taking off 
the rheea fibre, from the wood or rod on which it is is pro- 
duced, by machinery, compared our home-grown willows with 
it, and finding them similar in appearance, he has been equally 
successful in producing from the willow plant an excellent 
article for paper, which he intends including in a new patent 
he is about to take out for the machine he prepared the willow 
fibre in. 



FIBRES PREPARED AS SUBSTITUTES FOR FLAX, 
BY J. HILL DICKSON'S PATENTS, IN 1862-3. 

AND OEDEES OBTAINED EOE THE SAME AS A TRIAL, 
BY THE FOLLOWING SPINNERS : 

No. Long Fibre. Tow. 



1 Messrs. Marshall & Co., Leeds £70 per ton 
1 ,, Hives & Atkinson do. £70 ., 

1 „ Benyon & Co. do. £70 „ ' 

2 & 1 „ Wilkinson, do. £60 and £70. £30 and £36. 
2 „ Briggs & Son do. £30 

2 & 1 • W. Hill & Son do. £60 and £70. £30 and £36. 

2 „ Patterson & Co. do. £30 

No. 1 is taken from Italian hemp, green, nnretted, and 
cost the patentee £25 per ton, and £10 per ton to 
prepare by liquid and machines, in aH £35 

No. 2 is taken from New Zealand Flax, and cost £20 
per ton in London and £10 per ton to prepare by 
liquid and machinery, in all ........ £30 



From the price the above has been sold at, the shorts, or 
noils, that cannot be spun, can be sold for paper-making, at the 
following low prices, and leave a fair profit, viz. : 

£ s. d. 

ljd. per lb., or 14 per ton. 

l|d. „ „ 16 „ 

2d. ., „ 18 18 „ 

2Jd. „ „ 21 „ 

2£d. „ „ 23 6 8 „ 

2fd. „ „ . ... 25 14 „ 

3d. „ „ 28 „ 



NEW ZEALAND FLAX. 



365 



The last two are from rheea waste, and I have had bank- 
note paper made from it, of first-rate quality. 

But one of the above-named spinners could tell that the 
material was Max, although it was the reverse in feeling. Had 
it been known to be, in reality, what it was, such a price 
would not have been offered. 

NEW MATERIAL FOE, COTTON SPINNERS, NOT 
HALF THE PRICE OF COTTON. 

J. HELL DICKSON'S PATENT COTTONIZED FLAX, HEMP, 
RHEEA, AND NEW ZEALAND FLAX. 

WILL FLAX-GROWING PAY FARMERS, TO SELL WHEN SCUTCHED 
AT 6D. PER LB. OR, £56 PER TON, AND CAN IT BE PRE- 
PARED FINE, SOFT, AND SHORT, TO BE SPUN ON COT TON-SPINNING 
MACHINERY ? 

From' the il Armagh Guardian" Friday, February 19^, 1864. 

"Dear Sir, — The above-described question is, (in my 
humble opinion) one of great national importance, not only 
as to a supply of material for our manufacturers, but also 
the farming interests, especially at this time of year when the 
plough should turn down the barley or wheat stubble, with a 
view to another ploughing by the end of March to prepare for 
growing Flax. At no time for the last half century, has the 
subject become worthy of so much consideration as at this 
moment, not only because of the great prosperity of the linen 
trade of one province, Ulster, in Ireland, but because this 
crisis, when Surat cotton is now being sold in Liverpool at 
from Is. 5d. per lb. up to 2s. per lb., that would scarcely find 
a buyer at 4d. to 5d. per lb. two years ago, and because, if we 
are not able to find or obtain material that will be a substitute 
for cotton, we should not lose sight of such a want, or allow 
an opportunity to pass without trying to produce some material 
that it may be possible to convert into fibre sufficiently soft 
and fine, and capable of being made sufficiently short by 



366 



DICKSON ON 



machinery, to be spun on cotton machinery, and as by such 
production, if successful, we not only create employment that 
must lead to be permanent for the thousands that are now in 
distress in Lancashire, but we introduce new and additional 
material for the clothing of our people, that were formerly 
depending on the Southern States of America; should we not 
seize on this auspicious moment of proving by our own 
immediate action, that the manufacturing industry of 
Lancashire will no longer be depending on material coming 
from a country, whose people, from misunderstanding created 
between themselves, revenge their misfortunes and blood- 
letting propensities on our trade and our well-conducted 
operatives, by burning the material, cotton, rather than we 
should have it, because we very wisely refused to join either 
disputants, in an unholy, unchristian, and barbarous war. 

If the reader has any desire to understand what is the 
real advantage of a country producing from its own soil 
material for its manufacturers, in preference to sending away 
--our gold in millions for cotton, I beg to submit for perusal the 
following facts and proofs that I hope may be found deserving 
of notice : — 

In The Times, about two months ago, it was reported that 
there was produced last year in Ulster four millions worth of 
Flax, by a population of two millions. Now, it must be 
observed, that in place of Flax, £4,000,000 had been 
produced from 61,400 acres of wheat, barley, or oats, the 
whole, in all probability, would have been shipped to England 
for that amount in gold ; but no, the home produce Flax 
remained to give employment to other classes than farmers, in 
the happy and industrious community of Ulster ; and it must 
be evident to farmers, that by producing that four millions 
worth of Flax to be worked up by their spinning and manu- 
facturing neighbours, that they are not only better paid in the 
first instance, than if they had grown a crop of grain, but that 



NEW ZEALAND FLAX. 



367 



they are paid indirectly the year round, an additional price 
for every other article produced and sold off their farms by 
their neighbours, whose spindles and looms engaged on such 
Flax gives constant employment to the consumers of farm 
production. 

"As I look upon this part of the subject as being one of 
great national importance, as my county man Swift says in his 
writings, I consider his remarks are at this moment deserving 
of being again in print. 

' 1 Swift said— * ' The first cause of a kingdom's thriving is the 
fruitfulness of the soil to produce the necessaries and con- 
veniences of life, not only sufficient for the inhabitants, but 
for exportation into other countries. 

' 1 The second, is the history of the people in working up 
all the native commodities to the last degree of manufacturers. 

' ' The third is a disposition on the part of a country, to 
wear their own. produce and manufactures, and import as 
little in clothes, furniture, food, or drink, as they possibly can 
live conveniently without." 

" Such was the teaching of one of the greatest and wisest 
men, and truest patriots known to modem history, just as if 
he had anticipated the American war, that has placed 
Lancashire cotton-spinners the reverse of being in a "bright" 
position, from their depending chiefly on the slave-grown 
cotton of America. Had the witty Quaker M.P. got a 
lesson in early life on patriotic independence, from such a 
teacher as Swift, he would have thought more on Flax and 
sheep's wool than he did when he recommended the 
substitute of thatch and blue paint, as the alternative of the 
paste and gypsum cotton rags of Lancashire, and overlooking 
as he did the value of the fine cambric and linen cloth of 
Irish manufacture, as if all mankind had gone naked until 
within the last forty or fifty years ; but his selfishness made 
him forget that. The efficacious agency of the "hand 



368 



DICKSON ON 



spinning-wheel " clothed our people for centuries, before the 
self-acting mules were thought of in Manchester, and the 
mule-like obstinate temper and practice of cotton spinners 
in drawing their greatest supply from one* country and over- 
looking our Indian empire and colonies, has caused an 
unexpected and ''a heavy blow and great discouragement " 
to the trade of Lancashire, where the peaceable and 
praiseworthy operatives, are still suffering in thousands. 
However, as their brethren in the spinning trade of Flax 
in Ulster have wisely kept in view the teachings of 1 ' Swift," 
and pulled in harmony with the landowners and farmers in 
that happy and prosperous province, the trade of which, as 
reported at . the close of the year, has never been so flourish- 
ing, let us more seriously consider from such facts, and the 
wisdom of Swift, so thoroughly proved, whether we should not 
at once commence the work of producing from our own soil 
at home, as much as is in our own power, of Flax, as in my 
humble opinion, it is contributing to the misery of the 
operatives of Lancashire to continue importing cotton at such 
outrageously high prices, from a country whose ports are shut 
agaiust us, to the ruin of factory owners as well as their 
working people ; for as I am prepared to show, the owners 
of the twenty-two cotton mills that are closed in Preston, — 
which deprives 10,800 operatives from work, that Flax can be 
had in thousands of tons and prepared sufficiently soft and 
fine, and made the proper length for the existing cotton- 
spinning machinery, without alterations, but that of a trifling 
nature as to expense ; the fault will be their own if material 
from 6d. to 9d. per lb. will not stir them up to more patriotic 
feeling. 

" As there has always been a prejudice against the intro- 
duction of new material, lest alterations in machinery may be 
required ; and alpaca, which is now a great trade, shared the 
prejudice until the fortunate Mr. Salt worked it successfully, 



NEW" ZEALAND FLAX. 369 

I will on this part of the subject add what will, as proof, be 
interesting. On my visit to the north, in July 1862, I had the 
honour of having an invitation to call, and had the expressed 
opinion of one of the most enterprising, extensive, and wealthy 
merchants in Lancashire, Sir William Brown, Bart., 
Liverpool, in favour of my views and exertions, to introduce 
into the industry of that district, other material than cotton ; 
and his name in my opinion is sufficient to give weight and 
importance to such an object. Having sent on to the offices 
of Messrs. Brown ; Shipley & Co., a book with my specimens, 
containing rheea, hemp, Flax, pine-apple, New Zealand Flax, 
plantain and other fibres, the first six of which I had made by 
machinery and liquid, as fine and soft as cotton, and adapted 
as to length, sufficiently short in- staple for cotton-spinners 1 
purposes, and in the book, yarns and cloth, spun on silk, 
worsted and Flax machinery, and having also the first sample 
of rheea spun on cotton machinery by the Messrs. J. Crossley 
and Son, Halifax, I told Sir William I was invited by the 
Messrs. Birley, Brothers, cotton-spinners, to Preston, (for 
whom I was agent for many years in Belfast) to try my 
material at their cotton factory, confident of being successful. 
His reply was that he had heard that the cotton spinners in 
the United States of America were quite successful in spinning 
the wild Flax of the prairies on their cotton machinery, and 
added, if I succeeded in having my rheea fibre spun on cotton 
machinery, I should lay a foundation (by the introduction of 
such material) which must revolutionize the entire trade of 
Lancashire. He also said I might make use of his name by 
such expressed opinion, if it would aid my object of getting 
directors to join a company to work my patented inventions, 
as owing to his advanced age, and having retired from 
business, he could not do more than answer letters, which 
he would gladly do in my favour, and wished me every 
success. 

2 A 



370 



DICKSON ON 



a Such are (as near as I can recollect) the words expressed by 
one of England's most successful American merchants, who will, 
when called off to a better world, leave to the rising generation 
in Liverpool a monument, second only to that of Sir 
Christopher Wren, but more praiseworthy, because it was a 
free gift to his fellow townsmen, where he realised his great 
fortune, and now Jives to a good old age to enjoy the pleasure 
of having evidence of the good he has bestowed on those who 
remain behind. 

" Now as rheea runs from 3J to 5 feet in length, being in 
fact double the length of ordinary Flax ; it must be evident to 
any spinner of Flax or cotton, that if it can be so worked short, 
by machinery, as to spin on cotton spinning frames, that Flax 
which is of a more soft and oily nature, cannot be less adapted 
than rheea fibre material that is of a dry and brittle nature, 
but for the oily solution I use in preparing it ; with such facts 
as these, as proof, that the Flax-growers of Ulster have a new 
field before them, in addition to the Belfast factory-owner's 
attendance, each Tuesday to clean out your markets ; I hope 
they will not sit down with folded arms and allow their Flax- 
trade (as my old schoolfellows did from the peace in 1815 to 
1830, look on with indifference until Belfast took away their 
linen -trade) to be stolen away to supply the trade of 
Lancashire, either by English farmers, or their own Southern 
neighbours ; for although it is an old saying that " opposition 
is the life of trade," I cannot see that the Ulster farmers have 
got any rise in their price of Flax during the great and 
prosperous year of 1863 ; for looking as I do at 3 r our market- 
note, 5s. 9d. to 8s. 9d. per stone, as being below what I paid 
in Armagh some 20 years ago, w T hen my purchases were 
generally up to £1,000 on each market day, I do think a 
little opposition to the Belfast gentlemen towards a supply 
of cottonized Flax for Lancashire, will do no harm to either 
producer or spinner of the raw material. 



NEW ZEALAND FLAX. 



371 



" As this subject of cottonizing Flax may be ridiculed as a 
Claussen delusion, inasmuch as it was then said of Claussen's 
patent " that it was little short of turning gold into silver/' Flax 
being then an average of 7& per lb, while cotton was then 
only on an average of 5d. per lb. ; a few remarks on this may 
deserve attention. Claussen's patent was for liquid only, a 
chemical compound for what he termed "splitting and 
bleaching ;" not only was it expensive, but dangerous in the 
method of operating, as if great care was not taken in the 
washing out of the alkalies used, the material was liable to 
heat and total destruction ; ensued and added to this drawback, 
he had no machinery to reduce the fibres of Flax to the 
proper length ; for, being spun on cotton machinery, without 
which, it was a matter of impossibility to spin such prepared 
material on cotton spinning frames, besides the cost of 
preparing brought the material up to Is. per lb., and out of 
the reach of cotton spinners. Now matters are different: 
it is a well ascertained fact, by calculations made by the cotton 
supply association at Manchester, that if the American war 
had ceased at this moment, and slavery had been so crushed, 
that it is impossible to see for the next five years a regular 
supply of cotton at a price below Is. per lb. in England. 

" With such a report of unexpected advantages arising 
from the Americans not being blessed by having a similar 
constitution as our own — a fact that has led to a savage war — 
before the eyes of the landowners of Great Britain and Ireland, 
who have the power, if properly exercised, to cause a supply 
of better material than cotton to the mill-owners in 
Lancashire, at less than half the price, where millions of their 
gold remains locked up in machinery and buildings, all standing 
idle, whilst their operatives starve, need I say when they are 
all so well aware of the advantages they have already gained, 
by the production of Flax by their tenants to supply Belfast 
spinners, that now is the time to show such Lancashire 



372 



DICKSON ON THE FIRST POWER 



mill owners, as John Bright, M.P., and R. Cobden, M.P., 
(whose revolutionary spirit and unjustifiable teaching, with a 
desire to dividing their estates into cabbage gardens, such 
being with a view to gain a mob popularity that even the 
Times has been obliged to condemn) that notwithstanding 
such conduct, the true meaning of Conservatism is not to be 
departed from, but the truly good old policy of Swift strictly 
adhered to, as the only true mode of consolidating the thriving 
interests of all classes of her Majesty's loyal subjects in Great 
Britain and Ireland. Trusting that you will, as usual, give 
space in your journal to the above observations until I send 
on what will, I am confident, be more directly interesting to 
my old city friends, 

" I am, my dear sir, yours truly, 

"J. HILL DICKSON." 

P.S. Having sent to Lord Palmerston, Sir C. Wood, and 
Mr. Gladstone specimens of rheea, Flax, and hemp, cottonized 
and spun yarn from it, on cotton machinery, and cloth, superior 
to cotton cloth, at half the price, with my views on the 
permanent good that would result by the introduction of such 
new material into Lancashire, and having asked the Govern- 
ment to countenance my ideas of a free grant of land in 
India to London merchants as a company, to induce them to 
cultivate and gather such fibres, I sent the note I had from 
the late Sir William Brown to Earl Russell, expecting that 
the opinion so favourably expressed by a merchant of such 
eminence, would be deserving of a favourable reply ; but no, 
my Lord Russell, I suppose, has no faith in Irish doctors, but 
like Mr. Gladstone, in Garibaldi's case, prefers English — a 
" Ferguson" to a Dickson. — J.H.D. 



LOOM FOR LINEN IN IRELAND. 



373 



BANQUET TO THE LORD LIEUTENANT IN IRELAND 
26th NOVEMBER, 1864. 

As we have before us in our daily papers the truly described 
life-movements of our greatest (self-taught) men, movements 
made from a determination to conquer every difficulty, and by 
which they have been raised from poverty to affluence, as 
in many instances, one particular object takes hold on the mind 
of inventive genius and his name becomes so associated that 
it is at last called his "hobby," and I fear it too often follows 
that those who call it so, may be so uncharitable as to suppose 
that there is a hollowness for a selfish purpose, I as one who 
have written for the last nineteen years as a hobby on Flax- 
culture, and above all the benefit of the power loom, could 
not but feel delighted to see, that scarcely had Lord 
Woclehouse got seated as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in the 
Castle of Dublin, until he, at the first entertainment given 
by the Lord Mayor and citizens of Dublin, told them at that 
dinner what I told them thirteen years ago through the press 
of Ulster, that the power looms, the machines that 1 was the 
first man to perfect and introduce into Belfast in 1838, are 
now the only hope for Ireland's regeneration, the only means 
whereby the wages of the labourer, 8d. per day, can be 
advanced to a comparison with this great, justice-loving 
country, where no man is expected to exist on such scanty, 
miserable, and unjust wages. I, feeling the honour of 
such an advocate of my views, in the person of the Viceroy, 
addressed his Excellency with such evidence by my published 
letters in the Banner of Ulster as I thought could not fail to 
show him that my unpaid labours through the press (thirteen 
years ago) deserved his consideration, and as I saw in the 
London Telegraph on the 26th November, 1864, that his 



374 



DICKSON ON THE FIRST POWER 



Excellency had so thoroughly expressed my sentiments on the 
power looms and the advantages that the spread of its 
working would give, if introduced into the south and west of 
Ireland, I could not do otherwise but again mount my hobby 
horse however inanimate it has been for thirteen years, when 
I found that the representative of the most beloved sovereign 
that ever sat on the British throne, had proved himself capable 
of telling the citizens of Dublin what I told them through the 
press, that as the power loom had made Lancashire the 
mistress of the world in manufactures, Ireland's hope must 
depend on the amalgamation of the two interests of agriculture 
and manufacture, and on this his Excellenc} T said : — "There 
is another subject which I concur with the Lord Mayor 
in thinking is one of deep interest to this country. I mean 
the progress of manufactures. (Hear, hear.) A country 
which depends only on agriculture will always have great 
difficulties to contend with. It is of the utmost importance 
to this country that you should be establishing and promoting 
manufactures, have something to fall back upon in periods 
of distress, so that you will have some means, as my right 
hon. friend on my right said on another occasion, of employing 
your agricultural population, and of taking them from 
agriculture where they do not receive wages as high as you 
would wish them to receive, and employing them where they 
would receive better wages." 

Now this is very excellent advice of his Excellency the 
Lord Lieutenant, but there is too much of the quaker or 
methodist sympathy of " be ye clothed and be ye warm/ 5 in 
such advice, to gain for him a feeling of thorough confidence, 
and that he has gone over to support or promote such an 
object so essential to Ireland as a spread of manufactures. 

Had his Excellency taken advantage of his position and 
said, I am sent over not only to tell you what I have read of 
Ulster and its great linen trade, but I am here with a desire 



LOOM FOR LINEN IN IRELAND. 



375 



to promote meetings, (not such as was held in the Eotunda 
round room, to give rise to a challenge between two of Lord 
Palmerston's staunch supporters, Sir E. P. and the O'C. D.), 
that will by my name and my purse elevate the working men 
from 8d. to 2s. per day ; then indeed would Lord Wodehouse 
have shown he had seriously considered Ireland's wants, 
and to this he should have told his hearers, I am here to 
advise, by a properly organized system of loan through our 
government, the means to promote manufactures in Ireland, 
as I know by history of the millions of acres of unreclaimed 
land, that you have " virgin " soil, the best of land for growing 
Flax, an article you can now produce and force into the 
Lancashire market in place of cotton, such would have given 
his lordship's cut and dry remarks, on the one, prosperous 
trade - of Ireland, a feeling of earnestness in the eyes of the 
people of Dublin, and caused some of them to visit Belfast, 
to see if there was not as warm hearts in the black north 
towards the well-doing of our common country as there is in 
the heart of their city, and far superior to the round room 
treasonable sponte?"s, that never have shown a disposition to 
start anything that will elevate, by " a fair day's wages for a 
fair day's work," the poor honest labourer. 

His Excellency told the Lord Mayor and the Dublin 
merchants that were invited to meet him, no more than they 
all knew before he went over, and called their attention 
to the prosperity of Ulster, by saying: — "Let us con- 
sider for a moment what Ireland has been doing with 
regard to manufactures. This is, perhaps, the point in 
which I may most justly congratulate you. You have one 
great staple manufacture in this country — your linen manu- 
facture. Kow, what has been done in the last few years as 
regards that manufacture? We should test the progress of 
a manufacture by the number of factories and power-looms, 
because manufacturing industry in these days depends essen- 



376 DICKSON ON THE FIEST POWER 

tially on the power-loom. (Hear, hear.") In my country 
it so happens that we depended upon the hand-loom, and 
we were beaten in the race ; and, although by great exertion 
we have kept our heads in some respects above water, yet the 
power-loom has, practically speaking, won the race. What 
has been done in Belfast ? In this very year there has been 
an increase — I speak from memory, and in round numbers — 
from 3,200 to something like 7,500. It is asserted that at 
the present time there may probably be not less than 10,000 
power-looms at work. Now, there is a solid foundation for 
your principal manufacture — a solid foundation which, I am 
sure is so firmly built, that if it should so happen, as I pray 
God the day may soon come when that terrible war in the 
United States, or what was once the United States, should 
come to an end, and that cotton should again pour into 
England at the low rate as before ; so solid, I say, is the base 
upon which that already great industry of Belfast is 
established, that even in that case the ground you have 
gained will not be lost." 

If his Excellency thought that such would be refreshing 
news for the people of Belfast, he made a sad mistake, to 
suppose them so stupid as not to know the position they have 
gained, but on my reading the above speech, I thought myself 
justified in trying how. far Lord Wodehouse would be 
disposed to encourage the free circulation of my Third 
Edition, or book of instruction on the cultivation of Flax, 
and the spinning and weaving, patronised as it was from the 
first by the late Prince Consort, several noblemen and 
members of Parliament, and all the leading Flax-spinning 
firms in Yorkshire and Lancashire, and I addressed his Ex- 
cellency as follows : 



LOOM FOB LINEN IN IRELAND. 



377 



" 117, Great Dover Koad, London, 
"December 6tb, 1864. 

' ' To His Excellency Lord Wodehouse, 
li Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. 

" My Loed,— Permit me most respectfully to solicit your 
Excellency's attention to the fact that I find, on comparing 
your speech at the Lord Major of Dublin's entertainment 
with my writings for the last twenty-six years on the subject 
of Ireland's wants, and the basis on which the extension of 
the linen-trade of Ulster to the other three provinces would 
permanently elevate the labouring population, I could not 
' but feel disposed to believe, when your Excellency touched 
on the c p ower-loom' as Ireland's hope for the further security 
and extension of her great staple, the linen-trade, but that 
you may have placed your hands on some of my writings on 
the subject, for, as like Watt and the steam-engine, I was the 
first man to introduce a power-loom into Belfast, and to bring 
into it, from Leeds, a perfect piece or web of linen, I never 
did despair of the day being not far distant when the novelty 
I introduced would become, as it has been in Manchester, the 
chief corner-stone of every factory in the United Kingdom. 
I could not but feel proud to see that no sooner had your 
Excellency the opportunity of making a speech in Dublin, 
but you told them of the advantage of the power-loom. 

"I will not attempt to trespass on your excellency's atten- 
tion, or dilate on the advantage or value of the power-loom 
now, at the end of twenty-six years, since I brought the first 
from Leeds, made by Mr. K. Busk, and improved under my 
own superintendence until a perfect piece of cloth was made ; but 
as I have written on the subject, and in a few days my Third 
Edition will be before the public, and I must hope my prac- 
tical instructions will stand criticism, so far as my remarks 
will serve the cause I advocate, and I trust that the plain 
statement set forth, which cannot be expected to have much, 



378 



DICKSON ON THE FIRST POWER 



if any literary merit, may serve so far as to be sufficient to 
deserve your Excellency's order for its perusal, and as I am 
to deliver to the India Office 198 copies for free circulation in 
India, for which I am to be paid £66 towards the expense of 
printing (for which I have already paid £143), I hope that 
my offer to place at your Excellency's disposal in Ireland 
400 copies for the same amount, £66, in order that they may 
get ventilation, through your Excellency's orders, into the 
south and west of Ireland, may meet your Excellency's 
prompt order to my publisher to have them sent forward to 
the Castle in Dublin. 

" Your Excellency will, no doubt, by this time be aware, 
that instructions on the Flax question are wanted in the south 
and west of Ireland ; my book contains the Belgian system, 
and the best method in Ulster preparing, also my improved 
patent method of cottonizing Flax and all such fibres, and on 
the merits alone do I depend, and as the testimonials as to 
the quantity in the work I have produced are set forth in my 
book, I can only say, if your Excellency desires a trial to be 
made in this particular, your orders shall have prompt atten- 
tion as soon as I have my last improved machine ready for 
work. Trusting your Excellency will excuse this liberty. 

"I have the honour to be, etc., 

" J. H. DICKSON." 

I did hope, when I wrote the above offer to the Lord 
Lieutenant, that my work would deserve notice, but my 
Third Edition had no patron ; my first was the Duke of 
.Richmond, my second the noble Earl of Derby, and the third 
wanted the name of (I supposed) the Premier, who sent Lord 
Wodehouse to Ireland, therefore I received the following reply. 

"Viceregal Lodge, Dublin, December 12th, 1864. 
" Sir, — I am directed by the Lord-Lieutenant to acknow- 
ledge your letter of the 6th instant, and the sheets of your 



LOOM FOR LINEN IN IRELAND. 



379 



forthcoming work, which you were good enough to forward to 
his Excellency, and I am to state in reply that, though his 
Excellency is convinced of the value of your work, he regrets 
that he is not in a position to promote its free circulation in 
Ireland. 

* 4 1 am directed to return the sheets of your work, and the 
enclosures of your letter. 

" I am sir, your obedient servant, 
(Signed.) "EDMOND R. WODEHOUSE. 

"J. H. Dickson, Esq." 

What a mistake it has been on the part of Lord Palmerston 
that he did not select a viceroy for Ireland, out of the many 
rich of his noble acquaintances, one that had the means, as 
well as the eye, understanding and heart, to see and promote 
what would create permanent employment for the people. 
"We have here before us a letter by order of our Queen's 
representative in Ireland, saying ' 1 that though he is con- 
vinced of the value of a work calculated to promote what he 
recommends the people of Ireland to push forward, as the 
only hope of national prosperity," he regrets he is not in a 
"position to promote its free circulation," not in a position to 
pay £66 — barely the price of printing and binding ; had Lord 
Palmerston, if he could not get another Duke of 
Northumberland to make Dublin merry at Christmas, 
selected Mr. Ben Lee Guiness, a merchant prince in 
Dublin, or some of the merchant princes in this city, like 
Sir J. Duke, or the late Mr. W. Cubitt, to whom £20,000, 
in one year, as lord mayor, was no object, no branch of trade, 
so essential to the well doing; of Ireland would stand still from 
want of support necessary for its extension ; but so long as 
men like Sir Robert Peel have a voice in the Castle of 
Dublin, in the great work of extending Flax culture and the 
power loom in Ireland, in opposition to Lancashire cotton, 



380 



DICKSON ON POWER LOOMS IN IRELAND. 



men whose fortunes and position have been created by cotton- 
spinning and weaving, it is against all reason and common 
sense to expect Ireland to have any assistance from a 
government having such a chief secretary. I can prove this 
by his promises to deputations, and by his refusal to open my 
pattern book containing cottonized Flax and Indian fibres, 
yarns and cloth, which lay a whole week at the Irish office, 
Westminster, and my letter requesting him (Sir P. Peel) to 
have all sent on to Dublin ; the same book that the noble 
Earl of Derby sent from Knowsley Park, to the Manchester 
Relief Committee. 



APPENDIX. 



The greatest difficulty in the endeavour to induce farmers 
to grow Flax, is to disabuse their minds of the idea so 
mischievously promoted that this plant is necessarily so great 
an exhauster of the soil over all other crops, that it should 
not be cultivated, or if so, it should be sparingly ; and the 
misfortune is that editors or paid writers of the press are 
generally of the briefless barrister class, scholars no doubt, 
but to earn a living, will take upon themselves to write an 
article on any subject, and I have had above thirty years 
practical knowledge in the cultivation of Flax and have never 
allowed a book written on this subject to remain unread that 
I could place my hand on, or an article in the newspaper 
that I could pass without reading, I must here say 
that in all my experience I have never read anything so 
monstrously absurd, and without any foundation, in fact, 
as the article now before me, taken from a leading journal, the 
London Standard, a paper that one would suppose should, 
and in fact always did appear to be until this article appeared, 
the true friend to the Irish landlord. Having noticed the article 
at page 161 in this work, where the writer says, " The 
prosperity of the north of Ireland may be very justly attributed 
to the flourishing condition of its linen trade," and having also 
shown by his assertion, "That the linen trade of Ulster 
cannot be largely increased because the produce of its looms 
is only suitable to the wealthy, 1 ' that he is so perfectly ignorant 
of the subject he has attempted to write on, that he has 
subjected himself to be laughed at by every Flax -grower, 
spinner, and manufacturer of linens in Ireland, I left his 
remarks on the exhausting nature of the Flax plant, to be 
answered by what science teaches along with practical 
working of the soil, all of which has been tested by the 
most able writer of the day, Sir Robert Kane, to whose works 
I shall draw on, as I have done largely, because it is the 
standard work on the resources of Ireland. 

That Flax is an exhauster of the soil (I say may be so, if 
carelessly cultivated), cannot be disputed ; and so will all crops 



11 



APPENDIX. 



be, but that it must be so, however cultivated, I utterly deny; 
and I do so on two grounds : 1st., on the ground of my own 
experience, having grown as good oats after Flax as after 
wheat, or any other crop ; and 2nd. on the ground of the 
known composition of the plant, I say "known," as Sir R. 
Kane, in his masterly writings has given us in full detail, all 
the information that could be wished for, and as the entire 
press of Ireland is aware of the thorough value cf Sir R. 
Kane's knowledge, I cannot but think they felt dissatisfied 
when they read the silly attempt of the writer in the 
Standard to discourage the Flax movement in Ireland. 

The main point upon which we rest our assertion that Flax 
is not necessarily an exhauster of the soil, as the word implies, 
is the removal out of it, those elements of vegetable food which 
it contains, and in the abundance of which its fertility consists. 
Now, plants derive all their mineral portions from the soil, all 
those portions, in fact, of which, when they are burnt, their 
ashes consist, and upon the quantity and quality of their 
power of exhausting, the soil depends. 

Taking the Flax plant when harvested, Sir R. Kane found 
it contain 5 per cent, ashes, which, comparing the plant need 
not be carried off the farm. The fact is nothing but the Flax 
should be carried off the farm ; the seed should be consumed 
upon it, the steeping water should be used as liquid manure, 
and none better can be applied ; the bone or stalk on which 
the fibre grew, when separated from the Flax, by breaking 
and scutching should be burned, as it will not rot for years, 
and carried to the dung heap. The fibre is the only 
thing carried to market, and the point to be ascertained, by 
one who cultivates as he ought, in order to make up his mind 
as to the exhaustion of his farm, consequent on its cultivation, 
is the mineral matter carried off in the fibre ; and this, on Sir 
R. Kane's authority, and for the satisfaction of all who cul- 
tivate the crop, we proclaim to be most insignificant in 
quantity; in fact, you may take a bundle of Flax fibre and 
burn it, and it will leave no ashes. 

Any further remarks would but weaken the influence of 
this fact, I therefore appeal to my intelligent agricultural 
readers, if what I have said does not entirely meet all the 
objections on the part of the Standard's writer, he can 
bring forward. What becomes after this, of his and such 
theoretical writers, antiquated, and (can 1 help saying) most 
ignorant fear of landowners allowing their land to be 
ruined, now, that it is so evident that Ulster prosperity has 



APPENDIX. 



Ill 



been solely created by Flax cultivation, I am sure that a 
landowner can do few greater favours than encourage and 
aid, if necessary, an intelligent tenant to grow the crop, which 
being proved non-injurious to the land, must be for his own 
benefit and that of Ireland. 

I have in my work quoted so frequently from Sir R. Kane's 
able work on the resources of Ireland, and his speeches at the 
agricultural meetings, and also from Dr. Hodges, of Belfast, a 
gentleman that also thoroughly understands the Flax subject, 
that more would be superfluous, therefore, I leave the 
Standard's writer to grope his way out of the dark cellar he has 
dropped into until I kindle a bundle of Flax, that by such 
flame he may see his way out, and if he should touch on this 
subject again, I must ask him how it is he forgot his writings 
in 1850, when he was stirring up all Ireland to imitate the 
teaching of Swift, on the thriving of a country to produce 
material for export when manufactured, and import nothing 
they could possibly avoid for the purposes of meat, drink, 
furniture, or clothes ; but I have not done with the writer, he 
shall hear from me on Swift's teaching. 

If anything could be more brought out in favour of the 
increase of Flax-culture in Ireland, it can be supplied by the 
speech of the new Lord-Lieutenant on the increase of the 
power looms in Ireland, and that such should now be 
Ireland's hope to give employment to her people; and as I 
was the first man in Ireland, in the year 1838, to superintend 
the improvements of a power-loom in Leeds, until I had the 
first linen-web ever made by power finished, and brought it 
and the loom to Belfast, previous to which there were 
hundreds of silly fellows, like the writer in the Standard, 
thought me mad, as it was said to be impossible to weave 
linen by power, because " a good selvage could not be possibly 
made," and "Flax yarn had no elasticity like cotton or 
woollen yarn." I refer the reader now with great satisfaction 
to my letters in this book as proof of the fact, one in parti- 
cular, published in the Belfast Banner of Ulster, in the year 
1856. 



LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS 

TO THE AUTHOR'S FIRST WORK OX THE 

CULTIVATION AND PKEPAEATION 
OP FLAX-SPINNING AND 
WEAVING. 

PATRONISED BY THE LATE AND MUCH LAMENTED 

AND 

SEVERAL NOBLEMEN, MERCHANTS, MEMBERS OF 
PARLIAMENT, SPINNERS AND MANUFACTURERS, 
IN 1847. 



2 B 



HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS 

THE PRINCE CONSORT 

Having on several occasions expressed his desire to countenance 
and encourage everything calculated to improve our manufac- 
ture, and being a most successful competitor for prizes offered 
by the Royal Agricultural Society of England, and the patron 
of those who introduced improved machines to aid the opera- 
tions of British farmers in the cultivation of the soil ; and, aware 
as I am, that the Prince's Belgian countrymen are celebrated 
for their productions of Flax, and that they are very justly 
termed superior to any other nation in their management of the 
Flax crops, and the after preparation of the fibre, I was induced 
to believe I might take the liberty of presenting a copy of my 
work on the cultivation of Flax, spinning and weaving, to His 
Royal Highness, and having sent one forward to Buckingham 
Palace, I had the honour of receiving the following letter from 
Colonel C. B. Phipps, the Prince's Private Secretary : — 

"Windsor Castl.e, February 4th, 1847. 

" Sir, — I have received the commands of His Royal Highness 
the Prince Albert, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, 
and also of your work upon the cultivation of Flax (which His 
Royal Highness has been pleased to accept), and for both of 
which I am commanded to return you the Prince's thanks. 

" Permit, me at the same time, to give you my best thanks for 
the copy of your work, which you kindly forwarded to me. 
" I have the honour to be, Sir, 

" Your obedient and humble servant, 

"0. B. PHIPPS. 

" J. Hill Dickson. Esq." 



vm 



APPENDIX. 



Being aware that our old farmers were as little inclined 
to purchase books as they were to read them, or believe in 
the benefit likely to be derived from the improved mode of cul- 
tivating Flax, or its after management, by my process, not then 
known ; and finding that my friends, the Flax-spinners in 
Yorkshire and Lancashire, for whom I acted as agent (during 
ten years, from 1832 to 1842, residing in Belfast, Ireland, 
purchasing their Flax, selling their yarn, and employing seldom 
less than 2,000 weavers, making all kinds of linen goods) — 
agreed with me in opinion, that the circulation of 1,000 copies, 
free, to enterprising farmers, through Farmers' Clubs, and local 
Agricultural Societies, would help to remove their prejudice 
against Flax-culture, and cause its being more extensively grown 
in England, and as twenty-four of them subscribed £55 towards 
promoting the object I had in view, with several noblemen, land- 
owners, merchants, and Members of Parliament, who gave their 
names and influence to the same, I solicited His Boyal Highness 
Prince Albert to patronise by his distinguished name the work 
contemplated, and was again honoured by the following letter : — 
"Buckingham Palace, March 17th, 1847. 

" Sir, — I have received the commands of His Royal Highness 
the Prince Albert, to inform you that His Eoyal Highness has 
been pleased to consent to your placing His Eoyal Highness's 
name at the head of the list of subscribers to your work upon 
the. cultivation of Flax, &c, &c. 

" I have the honour to be, Sir, : 

" Your obedient and humble servant, 
« 0. B. PHIPPS. 

" J. Hill Dickson, Esq." 



APPENDIX. 



IX 



FJEST SUBSCRIPTION LIST. 
PATEONISED BY HIS EOYAL HIGHNESS 
THE PEINCE CONSOKT, 

AND THE FOLLOWING NOBLE LOEDS, &C. 

£ s. d 

The Right Hon. Lord Littleton, Haley Park 110 

His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, Northumberland House .. 2 

The Earl of Craven, Combe Abbey .. ..200 

The Earl of Carlisle, London a 1 

The Right Hon. Lord Wedlock, Escrick Park, York . . . . 10 

Lord Courtenay, Powderham Castle .. .. .. .. ..100 

Sir I. Stewart Richardson, Bart., Petfour, Castleperth . . . . 2 2 

Sir E. B. Baker, Bart., Ramston, Dorset .. 200 

Sir R. Newman, Bart., Mamhead Park, Exeter 110 

Sir Thomas Tankard, Bart., Stratton, Cirencester 10 

Sir Hick Beach, VVilliamstup Park 110 

Sir W. Codrington, Bart , M. P., Gloucestershire 110 

The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, Carlton House Terrace . . . . 10 
A. Lawson, Esq , M.P., Knaresboro' .. .. .. .. ..200 

W. Aldam, Esq., M.P., Leeds 100 

W. Forbes, Esq., Stirling 100 

P. Pusey, Esq. ; MP., Chairman of the "Journal Committee of the 

Royal Agricultural Society of England, Pusey House, Farringdon 10 

Col. Muir, M.P., Caldwell, Kempen 100 

Col. G. Wynham, Petworth, Sussex 200 

Col. McDowell, 2nd Life Guards, London 2 

Lady Noel Byron, Leicestershire .. .. .. ..100 

T. Beale Brown, Esq., Salperton, Gloucestershire .. .. .. 110 

W. Beach, Esq., Oakley Hall 110 

E. Hunt, Esq., New Broad Street - 110 

J. J. Mechi, Esq., Tipti-e Hall, Kelvedon 210 

Messrs. Briggs and Co., Primrose Street, City 2 10 

P. Lawson and Sons, Edinburgh ... .. ... ... ... 2 10 

W. Crosskill, Beverley 210 

Messrs. Denton and Charnock, Wakefield ... ... ... ... 4 

F. McNeil and Co., Bunhill Row, London 3 

Thorp, Fallows, and Co., Baker Street, London 2 10 

Fanners' Fire Insurance Company, Strand, London 4 3 

The Mutual Cattle Insurance Company, Strand s London 4 

W. W. Whitmore, Esq., Dudmasten 1 10 



X 



APPENDIX. 





X, 


s. 


cu 


E. D. Salesbury, Esq., Lancaster 


. 1 








Eev. I. Pearce, Folkestone 


. 1 








I, F. Elwes, Esq., Bossington ... .. 


1 


1 





L. Houster, Esq., Johnston Castle, N.B. 


1 


1 





A. J. Gordon, Esq., Naish 


. 1 








J. Cadbury, Esq., -Birmingham 


. 1 








W, "Woodward, Esq., Breadows, Norton 


. 1 








C. G. Sidney, Lord Provost, Perth, N.B 


1 








John Jones, Esq., Welshpool 


. 1 








W. Bayley, Esq., Iver, Bucks 


. 1 








Thomas H, Keogh, Esq., Shrewsbury 


. 1 


5 





W. G. Cherry, Esq., Buckland 


. 1 








W. Peel Croughton, Esq., Tenterden, Kent ... 


. 1 








G. H. Litchfield, Esq., Tetsworth 


. 1 








"W. Johnson, Esq., Bath , , ... ..* ... .. ... 


1 


1 


o 


IVIuspratt and Co, Liverpool ... ... ... ... ... . 


4 


o 


o 


FLAX SPINNERS IN YORKSHIRE, LANCASHIRE, 


&C. 








£ 


s. 


A 

u. 


Messrs. Hives and Atkinson,* Leeds ... 


. 5 








Do. Wilkinson and Co ,* Leeds ... 


. 5 








Do. Waite and WardeU, Leeds 


. 5 








Do. Walker and Co.,* Leeds 


. 2 








J. Gill, Esq. ... .... ... . ... 


. 2 


2 





Messrs. Hargreave, Foster and Smith, Leeds... 


. 1 


4 





E. Tatham, Esq., Leeds 


. 1 








G. Hammond and Son,* Leeds ... ... ... ... 


. 1 








J. Lobley and Co.,* Leeds ... 


. 1 








W. B. Holdsworth and Co.,* Leeds 


. 1 








Messrs. Foster and Davy,* Leeds 


. 1 








W. Renshaw and Co.,* Manchester 


. 5 








Rylands and Son, Manchester 


. l 


o 





J. Brooks, Esq., Manchester and Bolton 


. 1 


o 





German, Petty, anrl Co.,* Preston 


. 5 


o 


o 


Hincksman, Furness, and Co., Preston 


. 3 








Lawrence Spencer, Esq., Preston 


1 


1 


o 


J. Dewhurst and Son,* Preston... 


. 1 


1 





J. Birley and Sons,* Kirkham ... ... 


. 5 








W. Ullathorne and Co., Barnard Castle, Durham 


. 1 


1 





T. Ainsworth and Co., Clayton, Lancashire 


. 1 








Waithman and Co., Yealand 


. 2 








J. and A. Brown, Dundee 


. 1 








Clark, Plummer, and Co., Newcastle-upon-Tyne 


. 3 









APPENDIX. 



xi 



J. H. Dickson was agent for the firms marked thus * for ten 
years, until coming to London, in July, 1842, with a view to a 
Continental trade in Flax only, and the introduction of machines 
to prepare it. 

Business having compelled me to visit Dublin in February, 
1851, I was requested to attend meetings at the Irish Manu- 
facture Board Rooms, Essex Bridge, and solicited to give a 
lecture on the advantages to be derived by the introduction of 
my process and invention?. I accepted the invitation, and 
attended in March, before a very numerous and influential 
meeting of landowners and merchants, when the following 
occurred : — 

At two public meetings of the Board of Irish Manufacturers, 
held in Dublin in March 1851, Leland Crosthwaite, Esq., High 
Sheriff, in he chair ; two lectures were delivered by me, on the 
improved method of cultivating Flax, and preparing it by my 
newly invented machine, were brought before each of the 
meetings ; at the conclusion of which, a vote of thanks was 
passed unanimously by the meeting, and presented to me by 
the chairman ; and the matter appeared to Mr. Crosthwaite 
(who was then the best spinner of Flax in Ireland, at 
Chapelizod Mills) of such national importance, that it was 
then further agreed that 20,000 copies of my lectures should 
be published by the Board, and sent free by post to the 
clergy of every denomination in Ireland, to be distributed by 
them gratis in every parish, with a view to teaching my 
improved system of Flax culture ; and several merchants at 
the meeting sent in their names with a desire to have copies of 
my second volume ; and the press of Ireland were unanimous in 
opinion that the introduction of my machines were the first 
steps in the right direction, towards developing, by increased 
employment, the resources of the country, and they gave my 
views their hearty support in leading articles. 

The Right Hon. the Earl of Clarendon, being then the 
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and the promoter of Flax, and 
every other improvement in Irish industry, had only to be 



xii 



APPENDIX. 



asked to patronise my efforts to circulate practical teachings 
along with the introduction of novel inventions, to grant the 
influence of his name ; and in publishing the following list of 
subscribers to my second volume, I, at the request of the 
Bandon Flax Society, presided over by Lord Bernard, now the 
Earl of Bandon, visited Bandon and Cork. 

LETTERS, WITH SUBSCRIPTIONS, ETC. 

Having at the request of Lord Bernard, now the Earl of 
Bandon, visited Bandon in 1851, with a view to erect my patent 
machines for preparing Flax, and finding the farmers wanted 
instructions on the subject, the following are copies of 
communications from distinguished individuals, with their 
subscriptions towards promoting the object I had in view, 
viz., — distributing to every farmer who may be induced to grow 
ten acres of Flax, instructions gratis, through the Bandon Flax 
Society, on the most improved mode of growing and preparing 
the plant, and spinning and weaving the fibre into all kinds of 
woven goods, as Flax prepared by my patents can be mixed with 
silk and wool, profitably. 

Mansion House, Dublin, 

27th March, 1851. 

Sir, — I am directed by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor of Dublin, to 
acknowledge receipt of your favour of the 24th instant, inclosing several 
documents relating to " Flax Culture and Manufacture " in Ireland, and I 
am directed by his lordship to enclose you the sum of one pound towards 
the furtherance of such object, at the same time expressing his sincere wishes 
for the prosperity of the undertaking. Please drop me a line to acknowledge 
receipt, and believe, me, 

J. Hill Dickson Esq., Your obedient servant 

28, Palmerston Place, FRED. SUTTON. 

Upper Domiuick Street, Dublin. 

Martimo, near Dublin, 

2nd April, 1851. 

Sir, — I have to apologise to you for having your interesting letter, of March 
24th, so long unanswered, but I have been very unwell and totally unable to 
attend to anything. I sent your letter to a friend who thinks highly of your 
machinery ; but amongst various projects just now laid before the public, on 
the subject of the culture of Flax and cotton, — he, like myself is very much 
puzzled what to advise. 



APPENDIX. 



xiii 



As to myself, I am retired from all business, and have given up my farm 
on which I formerly grew Flax, and built a Flax mill, which was of great 
utility in the neighbourhood, but would be little now, in comparison with the 
great establishment of my respectable neighbour and tenant, Mr. Shaw ; but 
you have my best wishes, and if on inquiry I find 1 can be of any service, you 
shall hear from me again. I have the honour to be, sir, 

Your faithful servant, 
(Signed.) CLONCURRY. 

P.S. I enclose you half notes for £2. If you could invent a machine to 
prevent Irishmen from quarrelling, without knowing why, it would entitle you 
to the first prize at the exhibition. 

J. H. Dickson, Esq. 

Beaumont, near Dublin, 

July 2nd, 1851. 

Sir, — Long absence from home has prevented an earlier return of your 
letter and printed circular. I now enclose a first half of £1, my contribution 
to your very useful undertaking, Believe me, sir, 

Yours faithfully, 

J. H. Dickson, Esq. (Signed.) ARTHUR GUINESS. 

Castle White, Cork, 

5th July, 1851. 

Dear Sik, — I am in receipt of your letter, and am delighted to see you 
intend publishing a second volume of your work on Flax. Your first volume 
has much valuable information for the manufacturer as well as the agriculturist ; 
and I must confess when I first thought of becoming an extensive Flax 
grower, I drew largely from its stores. You may put me down for one pound 
subscription, and wishing you every success, I am, dear sir, 

Your obedient servant, 

J. Hill Dickson, Esq. (Signed.) JOHN O'BRIEN. 

The following communications were received by Mr. Dickson, 
from the Honourable Henry Boyle Bernard, and the Bandon 
Flax Association, presided over by Lord Bernard, Castle 
Bernard, Bandon. 

Bandon, July 5th, 1851. 
Sir, — I am much obliged by your letter and very interesting enclosures. 
You would be conferring a very great advantage upon our neighbourhood, if 
it was in your power, con veniently, to visit us now. 

I have the honour to remain, 

Your obedient servant 
J. H. Dickson, Esq., (Signed.) HENRY BOYLE BERNARD. 



xiv 



APPENDIX. 



70, South Main Street, Bandon, 

July 5th, 1851. 

Sir, — We have pleasure to address you for the purpose of placing before you 

the annexed resolution adopted at the meeting of the Committee of the " Elax 

Association," this day, and io request you will favour us with your reply on the 

subject, to enable us to convene a meeting of the committee in furtherance of 

the object therein contemplated. TVe remain sir, 

Very respectfully, yours, 

,~ , . JOSEPH THOMAS WHEELER,! e , . 

(Signed.) WILLIAiI CONOR SULLIVAN^ Secretaries - 

J. Hill Dickson, Esq. 

At a meeting of the Bandon Flax Society's Committee, held 
at the Devonshire Arms, on Saturday, July the 5th, 1851 — the, 
Honourable Henry Boyle Bernard in the chair, it was proposed 
by William Connor Sullivan, Esq., and seconded by John 
O'Brien, Esq. :— 

" That J. O'Brien having read to this committee a letter he 
had received from J. Hill Dickson, Esq., it appears essentially 
necessary to the prosperity of the Bandon Elax Society, that a 
further communication should be received from that gentle- 
man ; and it is hereby unanimously agreed that the secretaries 
write at once to Mr. Dickson, requesting that he will be so kind 
as to name an early day to meet the Bandon Committee ; and 
further, that he will be so good as to allow the committee to 
defray any expense he may incur (if so obliging) as to agree to 
their request. 

(Signed.) HENRY BOYLE BERNARD, 

Chairman. 

Colemain, Cork, 
September 3rd, 1851. 
Sir, — The Bandon Elax Society Committee, at their last meeting, passed 
a resolution requesting you would be so good as to allow them to become 
patrons of the work you intend to publish, on the question of Elax. 

I shall feel obliged by your adding to your list, the names of the Earl of 
Bandon, Viscount Bernard, and my own, with a subscription of £1 from 
each. We trust a book which is calculated to be of so much value, may be 
soon in very extensive circulation. I have the honour to be, 

Your obedient servant, 
(Signed.) HENRY BOYLE BERNARD. 

J. Hill Dickson, Esq. 



APPENDIX. 



XV 



Hollybrook, Skibbereen, 18th September, 1851. 

Sir, — Being deeply interested in subjects calculated to improve tbe con- 
dition of this country and its people, and knowing as I do, that this portion of 
it, once enjoyed prosperity ; and when the linen trade flourished a large 
proportion of rent was paid by Flax. I have great hopes that the active 
exertions you now are making to induce northern Fiax spinners and manu- 
facturers (men of capital and enterprise) to come and erect machinery to 
prepare and spin l! lax in Carbery or Bandon, may be successful, for I can 
speak from practical knowledge, since I erected a Flax scutching mill, on 
Hollybrook, I feel confident that the condition of the farming classes, and the 
labouring population, will be made better, by the introduction of Flax culture, 
and the revival of the linen trade ; aud as such a result will in all probability 
follow, if aided by sound instructions and the introduction of machinery, I 
have great pleasure in being a subscriber to your work on the sub] ect. Having 
witnessed the good effects of such industry in Ulster, I look forward in 
anticipation that similar advantages may yet be extended to Munster. Wishing 
you every success, I am, etc., 

Your obedient servant, 

J. Hill Dickson, Esq. (Signed.) R. H. H. BEECHEPv. 

Carlton Club, October 21st, 1851. 
Sir,— I shall have much pleasure in subscribing to the book you mention, 
and should wish my name to be put down for a donation of £3. Yiith respect 
to the mills, I should for the present not like to order one, although I am fully 
aware of its valuable properties. Unworthy as I am of the encomiums you 
are pleased to bestow upon me, I view the value of Flax culture in the same 
light as you do, and am equally anxious to promote it. 

I am, your obedient servant, 
(Signed.) LANESBOROUGH. 

Mr. J. Hill Dickson. 

SECOND EDITION AND SUBSCRIPTION LIST. 
PATKONISED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE 
EAEL OF CLAKENDON, 

LORD -LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND, 1851. 

His Excellency the Earl of Clarendon, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, 

Castle, Dublin ... ... ... .., ... ... 3 

The Right Hon. Sir W. Summerville, Secretary for Ireland, Dublin 

Castle ... ... ... ... ... ...2 

The Right Hon. Lord Mayor, B. Lee Guiness, Manor House, Dublin 10 
Doctor Hy den, M.D., Harcourt Street, Dublin ... ... ...300 

Captain H. Macmanus, Harcourt Street, Dublin ... ...3 

Doctor James Dickson, M.D., Ballinahinch ... ... ... 2 00 



xvi 



APPENDIX. 



* 


£ 


s. 


CL 


Messrs. Guiness and Sons, Brewers, James' Gate 


2 








Arthur Guiness, Esq., Stilorgan 


1 








The Eight Hon. Lord Mayor Elect, Alderman D'Arcy, Thomas 








Street, Dublin ... 


1 








Alderman George Roe, Distiller, Thomas Street, Dublin... 


1 





8 


All TT . , rx 1 Ml T~\ 1 1* 

Alderman Hutton, bummerhill, Dublin 


I 








Messrs. Pim and Co., Merchants, Dublin 


1 








Messrs. Jameson and Co., Distillers, Dublin 


1 








Messrs. Todd, Burns, and Co., Merchants, Dublin 


1 








H. Drury, Esq., Silk Merchant, Dublin 


1 








The Right Hon. Lord Cloncurry, Marotimo, Dublin 


2 








The Right Hon. Lord Talbot de Malahide, Castle Malahide 


1 








The Right Hon. Earl of Lanesborough, Belturbit 


3 








The Right Hon. Earl of Bandon, Castle Bernard 


1 








Lord Bernard, Castle Bernard 


1 








mi TT 1 r Tl T"> 1 1 * 

I he Hon. H. B. Bernard, Coolmam 


1 








Ihe Bandon Flax Society, Bandon ... ... ... ,.. 


5 








John O'Brien, Esq., Castlewhite 


1 





~ 


0. Cotton, Jisq., Co:k 


1 








M, Brown, Esq., Cork 


1 








ix. ±1. ri. xseecner, xLisq., okiorjereen, l-oik ... ... 


1 





u 


H. Fitzmaurice, Esq., Carlow 


1 








J. Herdman, Esq., Flax-spinner, Belfast 


1 








Messrs. Warthman and Co., Flax-spinners, Yeland 


2 








Messrs. W. Renshaw and Co., Flax-spinners, Manchester 


5 








Messrs. Stevens, Brothers, Hemp Merchants, Bombay and Liverpool 


5 









23, St. James's Square, 

July 21st, 1862. 

Sin, — Having found a memorandum relating to my promised subscription of 
1858, I send you the sum of £10, and request a receipt. With reference to 
any claim which you may have upon the India Office, I cannot interfere, but I 
have no doubt that it will be justly dealt with by those now in authority. 

I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, 

STANLEY. 

Mr. J. H.*Dickson. 

India Office, Dec. 9th, 1863. 
Sir, — In reply to your letters of the 30th ultimo and the 3rd instant, I am 
directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to inform you, with 
reference to my letter of the 26th of September last, that on your forwarding 
to this office 1 98 co mplete copies of your work on fibres, in the state in which 



APPENDIX. 



xvii 



you propose to issue them to the public, an order for the sun. of £66 (sixty-six 
pounds ) will be transmitted to you. 

The samples of yarn and cloth made from Indian fibre by co tton machinery, ^ _ 
which accompany your letter, have been placed before Sir Charles Wood. 

I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 

HERMAN MERIVALE, 

Mr. J. H. Dickson. 

THIRD EDITION OF SUBSCRIPTION LIST. 

Additional subscriptions to Dickson's work on Flax-culture, 
including his mode of preparing rheea, and other East and 
West Indian Fibres, as substitutes for cotton and Flax, proofs 
of which have been at the offices of the Privy Council for 
Trade, Whitehall, and are now in the rooms of the Cotton 
Supply Association, Manchester. 

£ s. d. 

The Right Hon. Lord Stanley, Secretary of State for India . . 10 

The Hon. the East India Company having received specimens of all 
the Indian fibres alluded to, prepared by Dickson's patent 
machines and liquids, and also yarn, cord, ship canvass, and 
drill cloth, made by him from wild rheea (assam grass), and 
from wild pine-apple, resolved, with a view to circulating gratis, 
in India, the value of such fibres^ when prepared by Dickson's 
process, for our manufacturers, to subscribe to his work on the 
subject, the sum of (now payable at the India office, by order 
Sir C. Wood) 66 

Colonel Marks, a member of the Canadian Government, and 
William Ferguson, Esq., President of the Provincial Agri- 
cultural Association, Kingston, Canada West, America . .10 

T. Beale Brown, Esq., Salperton, Gloucestershire, who got Dickson's 
first Flax mill, in 1847, and exhibited at the Northampton 
Agricultural Show . ...... .500 



Messrs. Hives and Atkinson, Flax-spinners, Leeds . . .500 
Messrs. Stolterfaught, Sons, and Co., Liverpool . . . .110 
J. Hardy Wrigley, Esq., J.P. and D. L., Southport, Lancashire . 5 
Messrs. Atkin and Son, Fleet Street, London . . . .110 
Capt. C. W. Daldy, Agent General, Auckland, for the Mechanics' 

Institute, three copies 12 6 

Messrs. W. and A. McArthur, merchants, Sydney, and Moorgate- 

street, London, six copies 250 

N.B. — The patent machines are on wheels, and may be moved about by 
one horse, from farm to farm, the same as a portable thrashing machine. 



xviii 



APPENDIX. 



EXHIBITION OF LOCAL INDUSTKY, LEEDS. 

SEPTEMBER, 1858. 
As I was the first to cause bales of Indian rheea and other 
fibres ? prepared by my patented inventions, to be exhibited in 
Yorkshire, I felt annoyed by the conduct of the editor of the 
"Leeds Mercury," by a very partial report that appeared in 
that journal, all in favour of one firm, as exhibitors, just as if 
no other of the numerous exhibitors had anything worthy of the 
notice of the much lamented Prince Consort, who countenanced 
by his visit the undertaking, and I published through other 
journals the following letter and the reply. 

5, Bishopgate Street, Leeds, 9th September, 1858. 
Sir, — As I am an exhibitor in the department over which you preside in the 
" Exhibition of Local Industry," I beg leave to draw your attention to a report 
in this day's "Mercury " of the Prince Consort's visit, which report, in my 
humble opinion, is partial and very unfair, not only as regards myself, but also 
as regards Messrs. Tatham, Titley, and Walker ; Messrs. Holdsworth and Co. j 
Messrs. Hives and Atkinson, whose yarns are on Mr. Pegler's stall ; Messrs. 
Booth and Co., whose linens are also on the same stall, and Mr. Boyle, who has 
superior and much finer cloth than Messrs. Marshall and Co., can produce. I 
am inclined to think that the above-named firms will not submit to the 
" Mercury" selecting Messrs. Marshall and Co. as the only exhibitors of linens 
and yarns ; and I shall feel obliged if you will be so kind as to inform me 
whether the Prince Consort's attention had been directed to my case of Indian 
fibres, and the yarns and cloth made from them, all of which I had reason to 
hope would have been placed before the Prince Consort, because of their being 
the only specimens from our Indian empire in the exhibition, and may be had 
one- third cheaper than Flax. Your answer will oblige, 

Your obedient servant, 
J. HILL DICKSON. 

J. C. Knight, Esq., 39, Briggate, Leeds. 

P.S. — The card enclosed describes what I have in the exhibition, and the 
index shows that I have the honour of the Prince Consort's patronage, and: 
also the East India Company's, towards promoting my object of free cir- 
culation in India, of instructions on the preparation of Indian fibres. — J.H.D. 

- 39, Briggate, Leeds, 9th September, 1858. 
Sir, — I am in receipt of your favour of this day, and having communicated 



APPENDIX. 



xix 



with Mr. Lripton, I am happy to be able to inform you, that the attention of 
his Eoyal Highness the Prince Consort was particularly directed by Mr. Lupton 
to your case. I am, sir, your obedient servant, 

J. Hill Dickson, Esq. J. C. KNIGHT. 

At the Leeds exhibition I was enabled to have, through the 
courteous attention of Sir W. Hooker, from the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, a great variety of fibre yielding plants, which I prepared 
by my patent machine and liquid, by keeping one end in the 
green unprepared state, whilst the other ends of many were, 
when prepared, as fine as silk. My next exhibition was in 
1862 at 

THE BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL. 

I submitted a box filled with my specimens in every stage, 
and a book containing on every leaf, yarns and cloth in great 
variety, from rheea, plantain, wild hemp, Flax, &c , to Her 
Majesty's Privy Council for Trade, which had their inspection 
for six months, up to the 26th May, 1862, when all was 
returned to me with a letter of expressed confidence in the 
value of my production, and I regret to add, that there, all my 
successful labour ended, as no member of Her Majesty's 
Government could be worked on to countenance or give any 
encouragement to the introduction of the new material. 

I must now in conclusion do that which I rejoice in saying 
every man has the right to do in this free country, to express 
in a respectful manner his opinion on the capability or incapa- 
bility of public men, especially if they are the paid servants of 
the Crown, and as what I know of the great abilities of one 
who is my much respected countryman, and I have watched 
with pleasure his movements and read his speeches on every 
subject he thought worth grappling with for the last thirty 
years, I am thoroughly convinced that if " the right man was 
in the right place," Sir James Emerson Tennent would be, 
either as President of the Board of Trade or Secretary of State 
for India. If such a gentleman of real talent and official business 
habits were selected, the manufacturing interests of Dundee, 



XX 



APPENDIX. 



Glasgow, Manchester and Belfast would be attended to, for 
it is well known that Sir James is aware of the 
value of the raw material of Flax and cotton, and the fibres of 
India and our colonies, as if he had been brought up in early 
life a spinner, and his examination as a witness on the questions 
now brought before the public respecting the joint or independant 
working, or position of the Foreign office and the Board of Trade 
functions, tells the country that he should be the "coming 
man." 

LETTEES FEOM SPINNEBS OF COTTON, SILK, WOOL, 
AND FLAX, WHO HAVE SPUN AND WOVEN THE FIBBES 
OF INDIA, FLAX AND HEMP WHEN COTTONIZED 
BY J. H. DICKSON'S PATENTS ; 

ALSO TESTIMONIALS AS TO THE VALUE OF THE MACHINES AND 
PRODUCE FROM A GIVEN WEIGHT OF RAW MATERIAL, AND 

THE OPINION OF THE PEESS IN ENGLAND. 

My first venture out to the manufacturing district with a 
view to having my cottonized rheea, Flax, and hemp, spun 
on cotton machinery, commenced on the 16th May, 1862. 

Having met by appointment John Crossley, Esq., then Mayor 
of Halifax (one of the firm of Messrs. J. Crossley and Sons, 
the eminent carpet manufacturers), at their office in Cannon 
Street, London, I found that gentleman equal to all that is 
said of him as to affability, and a desire to aid in everything 
calculated to do good, and by his invitation I left that evening 
in the same train with him for Halifax, having sent two small 
bales of my prepared rheea and plantain previously to their 
works, and in a few days, through the more than common atten- 
tion of another gentleman of the firm, Mr. Joseph Crossley, I 
had my rheea and plantain spun into yarn, and by the kind 
advice of Mr. Joseph Crossley, whose hospitality I shall not 
forget, because I feel grateful for the honour and attention con- 
ferred, I left for Manchester and Preston, to push my way 
amongst the fine spinners in Lancashire, where I was still more 
succej-sful at Messrs Birley, Brothers', cotton-spinning mills in 
Preston. 



APPENDIX. 



xxi 



COPY OF LETTERS FROM TWO OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE 
SPINNING AND MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN YORKSHIRE, 
WHO HAVE SPUN INDIAN RHEEA FIBRE, PREPARED BY 
J. HILL DICKSON'S PATENT, ON COTTON MACHINERY. 

Dean Clough Mills, Halifax, 
Mr. J. Hill Dickson, May 31st, 1862. 

Sir, — We have tried the bag of rheea fibre, and find we could use it iu large 
quantities, if it could be had at a suitable price. 

We are, Sir, yours respectfully, 
(Signed) JOHN CROSSLEY & SONS. 

[It cost the patentee 6cl. per lb. when made suitable for being spun on cotton 
machinery.] 



Flush Mills, Heckmonclwicke, 
Mr. Riches. July 29th, 1862. 

Dear Sir, — The writer only returned home to-day, after several days* 
absence, in the meantime yours of the 22nd and 26th are to hand. 

The results of our experiments satisfied us as to the rheea being useable into 
low blankets, and we send you one per rail. It is made from one-quarter rheea, 
but the blanket finishes coarser than wool only — it makes it coarser in 
appearance, whilst cotton makes it finer. It is so tough also, that in raising 
the nap it has driven somewhat, as you will see by looking through. If it 
could be split up finer, it would allow of its being used with finer wool, and 
the fault in running we could get over by a different plan of treating it, we 
believe. 

The writer had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Dickson in Liverpool last week, 
and expected to have heard from him when he came forward into Yorkshire, 
which he was purposing doing. 

When you are in a position to offer anything, we should be glad to hear 
from you. 

We are, Dear Sir, yours truly, 
(Signed) EDWIN FIRTH & SONS. 

The rheea supplied to Messrs. Firth and Sons was only half prepared; had it 
been combed, it would have been three times as fine, therefore there is no diffi- 
culty to be got over. It was prepared for worsted spinners, and not prepared 
by the cottonizing liquid, by which it is made as soft as cotton. 

Mr. Bazley, M.P. for Manchester, the most active spinner 
of cotton in that city, in favour of having a supply of cotton 
independant of America, thought it impossible that I could have 
my rheea or such fibre spun on cotton machinery, and wrote me 
2 c 



XXII 



APPENDIX. 



to say " It could never be brought into the industry of that 
district; that it was only adapted for Flax-spinners." I wrote 
him in June to inform him of my success in having it spun by 
the Messrs. Oossley and Sons, of Halifax, and received the 
following : — 

New Bridge Mills, Manchester, 
June 21th, 1862. 

Sir, — I am honoured by your communication of the 26th instant, and I beg 
to congratulate you upon the success which you report to me. 

I am, Sir, faithfully yours, 
(Signed) THOMAS BAZLEY. 

Mr. J. Hill Dickson. 

Being then in Manchester, determined to have my Indian 
fibres spun on the finer description of cotton -spinning machi- 
nery, but finding after several weeks trial that nothing but 
cotton could be believed in, I despaired of doing anything in 
the great cotton cloth mart, until I chanced to learn that my 
old but early in life friends had turned cotton-spinners as well 
as Flax, and I met two of the firm on 'Change, and being told 
by Mr. Thomas and Mr. C. Birley that I should have air the 
assistance they could give at their mills, I accepted the invita- 
tion of Messrs. Birley Brothers, cotton -spinners, in Preston, 
who are also Flax-spinners in Kirkham (for whom I was agent 
in Belfast for many years, up to my leaving in 1842 for London), 
to have my material tried at their works, and having spent 
nearly three months in that quarter, I at last saw my way to 
success in their mills, and also in the mills of Mr. W. Paley, 
where I had French hemp and Flax from green unretted straw 
into a sliver, as perfect as any cotton could be made, and as I 
had a considerable quantity of rheea spun by the Messrs. Birley, 
I left for Liverpool in October, and the following week had 100 
spools of yarn sent me, with the following letter : — 

Hanover Street Cotton Mills, 

Preston, November 4th, 1862. 
Dear Sir, — We duly received your letter this morning ; no one being at the 
mills to-day, we merely send you the yarn we have spun as requested. There 



APPENDIX. 



XXlll 



are two bundles, the one contains yarn made from half cotton, half rheea, 
the other from two-thirds cotton, one third-rheea. The rheea was much 
heavier than cotton, we make the counts Nos. 15 and 12%. 

We remain, yours truly, 
Mr. J. H. Dickson, BIRLEY, BROTHERS. 

Commercial Hotel, Liverpool. 

On receiving the yarn, I sent it to firms in Lancashire and 
Yorkshire, along with yarns all rheea fibre, and had it woven 
into cloth, plain and twilled, samples of which I sent to Her 
Majesty's Ministers; how it has been examined, and the matter 
of my labours for a national gain by the government of the day, 
remains to be seen at the coming session of Parliament, more 
on this is unnecessary. 

NEW ZEALAND FLAX (PHOEMIUM TEN AX). 

This very extraordinary plant, so difficult to do anything with, 
after giving many like myself great trouble to discover the way to 
make it marketable as an article for spinning purposes, I turned 
my attention to, after having dropped or left off aU idea of 
touching it, after many trials in 1855 and 1856, but finding 
my improved machinery could make the article marketable 
without steeping, I continued my course until I have done all 
as I could desire, because of the following facts. 

The article is gathered by the natives, and sold in Auckland 
by them at £10 per ton, and as the New Zealand government 
has taken the wise and business-like course to cause the fibre 
plants of the country to be brought into a state for exportation 
to England, by an offer of a reward of £2,000 to the first 
person who will, by his own invention, produce forty tons of the 
Phormium Tenax, so prepared as not to exceed £25 per cwt. in 
cost making, ready for market, and £1,000 reward to the next 
five persons who may join and work up twenty tons by any 
one's invention so as to produce the same advantage, Such 
rewards has induced me to "try again," and the result of my 
labours on a bale sent me by Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co., of 



xxiv 



APPENDIX. 



Liverpool, lias caused me to receive from one of the best judges 
of Flax in England the following letter : — 

Alma Terrace, Kensington, October 17th, 1863. 
Dear Sir, — The sample of New Zealand Flax (phormimn tenax) yon have 
sent me may he worth from £40 to £50 per ton for coarse spinning purposes, but 
much depends on how it turns out in heckling ; the finer quality is in my 
opinion worth abont £60 per ton. Yours truly, 

(Signed.) J. E. W. ATKINSON. 

Mr. J. H. Dickson. 

Mr. Atkinson is the retired partner of the firm of Messrs. Hires 
and Atkinson, Flax-spinners, Leeds, whose yarns are not 
equalled by any firm in the trade, therefore, such an opinion 
must be sufficient evidence of the value of my machines and 
process. 

As a practical man, I am confident that the (Phormium Tenax) 
New Zealand Flax must come in for the trade of Dundee, over 
the head of Flax, as jute by itself can never, so long as it is 
ruined in India by the retting or steeping system, be worked as 
a warp yarn, unless mixed with Flax. 

My late experiments on the New Zealand Flax has lead to my 
making the hard plantain or Manilla hemp, that never has been 
split or heckled, as soft and short as cotton. I sent a sample to 
Mr. John Crossley, of Halifax, a few weeks ago, as fine and soft 
as cotton wool. 

I now finish my labours by calling the better attention, and 
especially the landowners of Ireland, to our own country fibre, 

HOME-GROWN FLAX AND HEMP, COTTONIZED. 
These materials, which we can grow to any extent in Great 
Britain and Ireland, at 6d. per lb. or £56 per ton (the 
average price that the Irish hand-scutched Flax is now selling 
at this date, 26th of December, 1864, in Armagh, my native 
city), it will pay farmers to grow it better than a crop of oats, 
if sown on wheat or barley stubble, and if pulled rather green, 
not fully ripe, and prepared by my patented macliines and 
liquid, it can be made as fine as the finest cotton, and when 
submitted to the process of cottonizing by the machine for 
shortening it, it will be as easily spun on cotton machinery as 



APPENDIX. 



XXV 



Sea Island cotton, and I am prepared to supply a simple and 
moveable apparatus, to be fixed at pleasure to each cotton and 
spinning frame, that will enable the manager or spinning- 
master to spin as fine yarn from Flax on cotton-spinning frames, 
and as well adapted for combric warp yarn as the best that 
can be spun, by Messrs. Marshall and Co., of Leeds, or Messrs. 
Hives and Atkinson, of Leeds, whose yarns I always found 
superior to any I ever used for fine linen goods. 

TESTIMONIALS. 
Copy of a letter from T. H. Sothern, Esq., M.P. for North 
Wilts, the original of which was placed before His Excellency 
the Earl of Clarendon, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, in 1851, 
with a view to Dickson's hand-breaking and scutching-machines 
being introduced into the workhouses in Ireland, to employ the 
inmates. 

Sir, — You erected for me in three days, on my farm at Bowden Park, near 
Chippenham, in the year 1847, a mill for bruising* Flax, and another mill for 
scutching Flax, driven by a steam-engine of 5 -horse power. I have worked 
these mills constantly since that period, and have found that they do the work 
very well indeed. 

I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
(Signed) T. H, S. SOTHERN. 

J. Hill Dickson, Esq., 
Palmerston Place, Dublin. 

Copy of a letter from T. Beale Browne, Esq./Andoversford, 
Gloucestershire, who gave his order on seeing the drawings, and 
has still at work the first Flax-mills invented by Dickson, and 
worked in the Koyal Agricultural Society's Show Yard, at 
Northampton, in 184:7. 

Hampen, Andoversford, Gloucester, 
October 15th, 1847. 
Dear Sir, — I am sorry 1 could not give you any information of the mills 
before, as unfortunately the horse-power of my threshing-machines was broken 
before the Flax-mill was erected, and this has caused so much delay. You will 
be pleased to hear that it has far exceeded my expectations, and nothing can 
exceed the beautiful manner in which the breaking-mill, as well as the 
scutching-mill works. The man from the north of Ireland, who came to me 



xxvi 



APPENDIX. 



with a high character, says it is far superior to any of the mills there, and its 
cost is not more than half one of those. I send you a specimen of the Flax of 
this year's growth, John considers it equal to the best Irish Flax, and says the 
mill in breaking, wastes less and cleans it better than any mill he has seen. I 
send you these particulars, knowing it will give you satisfaction. I only wish I 
had planted twenty acres more Flax this year. 

I am, dear Sir, yours very truly, 
(Signed) T. BEALE BROWNE. 

Copy of a letter from Dr. J. F. Koyle, of the Honourable the 
East India Company. 

East India House, Feb. 25th, 1855. 
Sir, — I have received the specimens of East India fibres, which you have 
been good enough to put through your machines and liquid. The effect is 
marvellous on many of them, and I feel from what I have seen that your 
management must bo admirable to convert such ugly looking fibres into silky, 
hair-like material. The other Flax fibres I have also looked at, and admire 
them much ; there is a great abundance of fibr is in India well worthy of the 
attention of merchants. 

Your obedient servant, 
Mr. J. Hill, Dickson, (Signed) J. F. Royle. 

Proprietor, British and Foreign Hemp and Flax "Works, 
Office, 4, Stanley Terrace, Lower Road, Deptford. 

Copy of a letter from Bombay and Liverpool merchants, 
importers of Indian fibres. 

J. Hill Dickson, Esq., 
British and Foreign Hemp and Flax Works, 

Office, 4, Stanley Terrace, Lower Road, Deptford. 

Liverpool, April 8th, 1857. 

Dear Sir, — We have pleasure in being able to certify as to the value of 
your small breaking-machine, which you stated was protected under the old 
Patent Law in 1852; our Mr. Stevens, of Bombay, spent several hours daily 
for a week at your factory, to satisfy himself as to the work performed by this 
breaker and your scutching-machine, and as we had some forty bales of Bombay 
hemp re-dressed which was only worth £14 or £15 per ton, but which after 
being dressed by you was sold by Mr. J. A. Beneke, hemp and Flax broker, 
Liverpool, and also in London, at £34 to £35 10s. per ton, we cannot but 
express our entire satisfaction with the produce and profit of your inventions, 
and are not surprised to hear, as you state, that the India aloe fibre, worth here 
£10 per ton, should be bringing £28 per ton in London after being re-dressed by 
your patent machines. 

Yours truly, 

STEVENS, BROTHERS. 



APPENDIX. 



XXVll 



The cost of re-dressing hemp and Alloa fibre is £4 10s. per ton. 

The following has been the result from the re-dressing of forty-three bales of 
Bombay native prepared hemp, part sold in Liverpool last November by the 
owners, Messrs. Stevens, Brothers, Liverpool and Bombay merchants : — 

To 144 cwts. 3 qrs. 21 lbs. of hemp, at 15s. per cwt. . . £108 14 
Cost of preparing, baling, and carriage, at £4 Is. 8d. per ton . 29 11 9 



£138 5 9 



cwt. qrs. lbs. 

By weight, when re-dressed — Hemp 101 3 21 

Ditto Tow . . . . 18 2 

Loss or waste 24 2 



144 3 21 



By sales in London and Liverpool — Hemp, 101 cwt. 3 qrs. 21 lbs. 

at £35 10s. per ton . . £180 18 9 

Tow, 18 cwt. 2 qrs., at 18s. per cwt. 16 13 



£197 11 9 

Deduct cost of material and re-dressing. . . . . 138 5 9 



Net profit . . . £59 6 
. As a set of three breaking-machines at a cost of £1,000, will prepare and 
make ready for market, from five to six tons of hemp per week, it is evident 
from the work produced as above, that £3,000 per annum may be obtained by 
working them on rough hemp alone. 

The " Daily News" of last month quotes the the price of Bombay hemp in 
India at £9 per ton. The price in Liverpool runs in general from £18 to £20 
per ton, and a plentiful supply at all times can be had in that market. 

P.S. — "We have just been informed that Mr. Stevens, of Liverpool, placed 
the Bombay hemp, after being prepared by the patent machines, before nine 
extensive rope-makers in Liverpool, and only one out of that number could 
guess what it was, so great was the alteration, but all agreed it was worth from 
£36 to £40 per ton. 

CUVERIAN SOCIETY. 

At the first meeting of this society for the sessions 1857-8, which took place 
at the Royal Cork Institution, on Wednesday, 4th November, 

Mr. H. Biggs produced some very beautiful specimens of Indian grass, 
prepared by a new patent process, so as fully to warrant the term of Vegetable 



XXV1U 



APPENDIX. 



Silk, applied to it by the ingenious and talented patentee, Mr. J. H. Dickson. 
The samples were shown with an end of each in a raw state, while the other 
end was finished in the most exquisite style, each sample exhibited a different 
tint of the most brilliant colour and silky fineness, those colours and finish are 
said to be indestructible. 

Mr. De Cook Ivenefic, who was present, and whose acknowledged experience 
cannot be doubted, spoke warmly in favour of the success of this most useful 
invention, and highly extolled the extraordinary beauty and strength of this 
fibre. We are proud so say that Mr. Dickson, who visited this city a few years 
since, is an Irishman, and one whose indefatigable exertions and industry we 
have no doubt will be fully rewarded, as it so richly deserves to be. — " Cork 
Advertiser," November 26th, 1857. 

EXTEACT FEOM THE GARDE NEB'S CHRONICLE 
AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE, 

EDITED BY PROFESSOR LINDLEY AND J. C. MORTON, Esq., 
Saturday, August 16th, 1862. 

Instructions on the most improved mode in the Cultivation, 
Cottonizing, and otherwise Preparing of Flax for Spinning, §c. 
Also instructions on the mode of separating the Flax and 
Hemp fibre from the wood on which it is produced, SfC 
By J. Hill Dickson. 

The above are a few words only of a most elaborate title page, in which the 
contents of a veiy full and instructive work are described. Mr. J. H. Dickson 
was a constant correspondent of the " Agricultui-al Gazette," twelve or fourteen 
years ago, when Elax culture was more industriously and importunately 
advocated than it is now. There are, however, districts large enough where 
the cultivation of it is still maintained, and where the cultivators of it are 
numerous enough to ensure a sale for a very explicit book of instructions. 
And accordiagly this volume — a second edition of one formerly noticed in our 
columns as containing such instruction, together with much other useful in- 
formation — is likely to obtain a ready sale. 

Mr. Dickson has invented machinery and processes by which Flax and 
Other fibres are brought into such^a condition as enables them to be dealt 
with and manufactured by cotton machinery. And as his book is likely to 
induce the cultivation of such fibres, good would no doubt be done by its 
general circulation both in this country and our colonies. Failing cotton, the 
next best thing seems to be these fibres treated by Mr. Dickson's process. He 
has forwarded to us specimens which have been prepared by him from the 
rheea — an Indian plant — of which a large supply, were it available, being con- 



APPENDIX. 



xxix 



vertible by Mr. Dickson's process, would go far to see the cotton mills to work 
again. Mr. Dickson has had long experience both in the growth and manu- 
facture of Max, and his book would no doubt be of service both to growers and 
manufacturers, were it widely distributed and read both in our colonies and at 
home. 

The s pecimens sent to the " Gardener's Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette" 
Office wer e in the prepared state, ready for being spun ; also yarn and cloth 
that the patentee had made by the use of cotton, silk, worsted, and Flax 
machinery. 

THE PRESTON PILOT, SATURDAY, SEPT. 20th, 1862. 

SUBSTITUTES EOR COTTON. 
We wish to call the attention of our readers to a letter in another column 
from Mr. J. H. Dickson of London, on the important question of cotton supply, 
or the supply of cotton substitutes. Mr. Dickson has sent to our office a 
book of samples, of yarn and cloth, made under his own patents, from materials 
which he proposes to use as a substitute for cottou. These samples appear 
to have been for some weeks at the Board of Trade, and to have been 
brought before the notice of her Majesty's ministers ; they have also been 
exhibited in Liverpool, and though we do not profess to be able to judge 
of the value of this new production, or its adaptability to cotton machinery, 
we can say that from what we can see from a brief examination of the 
material it seems to bear more the appearance of silk or wool than the short 
staple of cotton, which accompanied the specimen, sent with it to compare 
as to its strength. We shall be very happy to shew it and the wool which 
Mr. Dickson has had spun on cotton machinery to any of our readers who 
feel interested in the subject. We have also seen another fibre prepared 
for spinning under Mr. Dickson's superintendence, which can be obtained 
immediately in thousands of tons, and we are informed that in a few days 
yarns shall be made from it and sent to our office for the inspection of the 
cotton-spinners of this district or any other persons interested in the matter. 
The discovery of an effective substitute for cotton is a matter of such vital 
importance to the commercial prosperity of this county, that any proposal to 
introduce a new material which shall answer all or any of the purposes of 
cotton is deserving of the best attention. 

EXTRACT FROM THE LIVERPOOL MERCURY, 
JULY 25th, 1862. 

The Editor having examined the large Book of Specimens that had been 
inspected by Her Majesty's Ministers, at the offices of the Board of Trade, 
Whitehall. 



XXX 



APPENDIX. 



COTTON AND ITS SUBSTITUTES. 

The present dearth of cotton, and its ruinous consequences in the manufac- 
turing districts, are subjects which naturally claim a large share of public 
attention. While fresh sources of cotton supply are being sought, the desira- 
bility of finding a substitute for it has not been overlooked . A patent has been 
taken out by Mr. J. Hill Dickson for the treatment of new textile materials, so 
as to render them applicable to all the purposes for which cotton is now em- 
ployed. This is effected by machinery applied to the breaking and cleaning 
of the fibre, making it perfectly fit fo;- spinning on the ordinary machinery now 
in operation at all the large millsW- The chief material which the inventor 
proposes to substitute for cotton is the rheea fibre. The plant is found in 
tropical countries, more especially in the East Indies, where it might be culti- 
vated to an unlimited extent. Yesterday Ave had an opportunity of examining 
some specimens of the new fibre in every stage of preparation, from the yarn 
up to the more complete process of its manufacture into cloth. So far as can 
be judged from the samples, Mr. Dickson's patent appears to offer the ad- 
vantages which he claims for it. Experiments have already been made by 
several large manufacturers, and Ave understand the result has been highly- 
satisfactory as to the success of the neAV patent. Another advantage would be 
the cultivation of the rheea fibre in our OAvn colonies, where large tracts of 
waste land might be brought into requisition and rendered productive. In 
another column will be found a letter from the patentee, which is worthy of 
perusal by all who take an interest in the subject of the cotton supply, and the 
best means for meeting the present emergency. 

The rlieea plant can be produced in Jamaica, and be bad in* 
England in four months from the time it has been planted, and 
will pay the producer 50 to 80 per cent, if he gets 2 ±d. per lb. 
for it delivered in London ; and as " the governme nt of Ceylon 
is giving very liberal grants of land — and in this it was actively 
supported by the Home Secretary, the late Duke of Newcastle — 
with a view to encourage cotton cultivation," the matter of 
rheea culture is certain to meet with similar consideration, if its 
real value as a substitute for cotton be brought out, as I now 
have done it, by spinning it into No. 30 yarn on Throstle and 
self-acting mules, at the cotton-spinning mills of Messrs. Birley, 
Brothers, Preston, on the 22nd of August 1863. 

J. HILL DICKSON. 



Just Published, Price One Shilling, 

EVERY CTJEATE HIS OWN PATEON. 

AN ADAPTATION 

OF 

LOED WESTBURY'S ACT 

FOR THE 

SALE AND AUGMENTATION 

OF 

SMALL LIVINGS. 

WITH A PROJECT FOR FOUNDING A 

COEPOEATTON OE INSTITUTE OF 
THE UNBENEFICED OLEEGrT. 

BY A CANDIDATE FOR ORDERS, AIDED BY 
A LAYMAN. 

WE DO WORK: LET US LIVE. 
LET US LIVE, AND WE WILL WORK. 

LONDON: 
MACINTOSH, 24, PATERNOSTER ROW. 
TENBY: R. MASON, HIGH STREET. 
CARMARTHEN : W. SPURRELL. 
AND OF BOOKSELLERS IN ALL CATHEDRAL TOWNS. 

1863. 



NOTICE. 



Nearly ready for Publication, and intended as a sequel to this 
Essay, in one volume, with Plans and Illustrations, 



The GEEBE and the FLAX ACRE, the PARSONAGE, 
GARDEN, APIARY, and POULTRY YARD. 



Some new Chapters of Glebe Culture, practically adapted for 
the leisure occupation of country Clergymen, their Wives and 
Families and " in Augmentation of small Livings." 

The system of orcharding pursued in Normandy, the cultiva- 
tion of Flax and its improved after management, by J, Hill 



Dickson's Patent Machinery and Process, with a view* to the 
dispersion and permanent employment of the Lancashire Operatives, 
under a combined system of land labour and mechanical industry, 
will be presented as the result of personal experience. 




PRINTED BY WILKES AND THORNBOROUGH, 63, NEWINGTON BUTTS, S. 



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